Thursday, August 28, 2008

When And How You Can Make A Claim On Your Group Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a legally enforceable assurance of financial compensation for losses incurred in the course of travel provided the losses have resulted from one or more of the risks specified in the travel insurance policy. Group Travel Insurance (GTI) is travel insurance for a group of people travelling together.

WHO CAN CLAIM: Claims under GTI can be made only by those members of the group for whom the specified risks have materialized in the course of the travel, and not by all members. Of course, if the risk/s have materialized for all the members, then the claim can be made by all of them.

WHEN YOU CAN CLAIM: You can make a claim under GTI only if one or more risks have actually materialized. It is important to remember that claims must be formally made within ONE MONTH of the end of the travel covered under the GTI.

HOW YOU CAN CLAIM: Though different insurers have different claim procedures, there are certain general steps you must take to make your claim irrespective of your insurer is. The general steps are as follows:

STEP 1: Immediately note down on paper, or key into you laptop computer, details of the events - such as the date and time of the event, details of the local police complaint lodged, if any, and so on. Also, describe the event roughly. This will be useful when you draft your formal claim.

STEP 2: Send an email, or make a phone call, to your insurer informing them of the event, and follow their advice. Email or phone call however usually has to be backed up by a formal claim on paper and a completed claim form given by the insurer. You can do this - as mentioned above - within ONE MONTH of the completion of the Travel.

STEP 3: Answer all queries asked by the insurer on phone, by email, in the claim form, or by any other medium. Give accurate and consistent answers.

STEP 4: The insurer, or the underwriter, will most probably carry out a verification / investigation to satisfy themselves of the legitimacy of your claim. This exercise can take between one to four weeks. They might also ask you to provide certain documents, e.g., a police report or a medical report from the city/country you visited where the untoward event happened.

STEP 5: Once the insurer / underwriter is satisfied of the legitimacy of your claim, they will send you a cheque or any other form of payment advice.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Sunday, August 24, 2008

How Can I Get Cheap Ski Travel Insurance

What is Cheap Ski Travel Insurance?

You probably took great care to plan your holiday, so why not insure that your holiday goes as smoothly as possible in the event of an emergency. Cheap ski travel insurance offers very affordable coverage for you and your family for surprise events that could affect or force you to cancel your holiday plans.

For example, if the weather forces you to cancel your ski trip for a covered reason, your nonrefundable expenses, up to the amount of coverage you purchase, can be reimbursed. When bad weather delays your trip, many discount holiday insurance companies will reimburse you for reasonable, additional accommodations and traveling expenses until travel is possible.

When you purchase affordable ski travel insurance you have numerous coverage options available. Medical insurance expenses, trip interruption and emergency travel services are available for your travel needs. Most insurance companies also offer 24 hours a day service in case you have any questions.

Why Cheap Ski Travel Insurance?

With Cheap Ski Travel Insurance, you'll have valuable coverage that travels with you and your family in the event of an accident. Regardless of whether your ski trip is for a week or a month, ski insurance will help you relax and enjoy your trip. When you purchase ski travel you are purchasing peace of mind and security for your holiday. It's one of those things you hope you never need, but a good thing to have.

When Should I Buy Cheap Ski Travel Insurance?

The best time to purchase affordable ski Travel Insurance is when you make your holiday plans. Some ski travel insurance companies may even offer discount holiday insurance, if purchased when you book your travel. Shop around to get the best deal, as some companies will offer competitive rates to get your business.

How Much Does Cheap Ski Travel Insurance Cost?

The cost of cheap ski travel insurance needs to be weighed against what an unexpected emergency will cost you. When you consider the expense that unexpected medical costs and trip delays can cause, ski insurance is a smart option. Most insurance companies offering ski travel insurance have several plans and options to suit almost any budget and level of experience.

Who Should I Contact About Cheap Ski Travel Insurance?

- Word of mouth is often a good start. Get a reference from a friend or family member who has recently purchased ski travel insurance.

- If you are planning your own itinerary, you can find some reputable companies online. One of the best resources for cheap travel insurance is i trek travel insurance. Ski-insurance.com is another option that offers ski policies for the novice through to the professional.

- When purchasing online, it's a good idea to 'compare apples for apples'. Download the company's product disclosure form. Understand what it is you are purchasing and compare this with other company's product offerings.

Some companies for example won't insure your board or ski's if you leave them outside while having lunch at the mountain café. This is only apparent once you have read their product disclosure booklet.

- If you are unsure about your offering of choice, be sure to contact the insurer's customer service center and query the services and plans they offer. Not all offerings of ski travel insurance are the same! Make sure you pick the plan and option that is best suited for you and your holiday trip.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

What Is Group Travel Insurance And Why You Should Opt For It

GROUP travel insurance is insurance against risks travelers face when on travel irrespective of the purpose of the travel. In group Travel Insurance, all members of the traveling group are insured against specified risks under a master policy. Travel insurance is not mandatory under UK law, yet it is advisable that travelers opt for it in their own interests, whether they travel alone, with family, or with a group of travelers.

Following are a few of the major risks that can be covered under group travel insurance:

* Personal accident or injuries sustained in car/train/air/ accidents

* Injuries or death due to accident or terrorist attack

* Illnesses when on travel

* Loss of some or all personal / business items, including money and documents, at the airport, inside aircraft, at the hotel, or anywhere else when on travel

* Losses arising from delayed or canceled flights for any reason including inclement weather or terrorist threats

* Any other emergency that may arise in the course of travel until return to the home-base

It is important to note however that group travel insurance covers only those risks that are specified in the group travel insurance policy. Therefore, before you embark on a travel, you must check it out with the holder of the master policy (usually a company) the risks covered. You cannot assume that all possible risks are covered in every group insurance policy.

Finally, the importance of Group Travel Insurance cannot be over-emphasized. The risks you face in normal life at your home-base are applicable even when you are on travel; in fact, risks are greater when on travel, particular if you are traveling to places where climates, food, and general law and order is different from what you are accustomed to. Some countries of the world have made travel insurance mandatory for their citizens undertaking foreign travel, though the UK is not yet one of them.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

About Winter Sports Travel Insurance

As the days grow shorter and summer becomes a memory, many of us will be turning our thoughts towards planning a winter vacation, especially one involving winter sports such as skiing. Travel insurance is an often overlooked part of holiday planning, but if you plan on taking part in sporting activites then it really is essential.

A normal Travel Insurance policy will probably not be up to the standard you need for winter sports, and if things go wrong you could be left facing a huge bill. So what features should you be looking for in a policy?

- Injury Cover

No matter how accomplished a skiier you are, hurtling down a mountain is always going to be more risky than simply lying on a beach working on a tan. And if you do have an accident, a mountainside isn't the easiest place for medical services to reach. If you're unlucky enough to need a mountain rescue or airlift to hospital, you'll be facing a bill running into the thousands even before you get medical attention. This sort of expense is likely to be specifically excluded on a standard insurance policy, but will be an integral part of almost any winter sports cover.

- Equipment

Most winter sports require expensive equipment, and where there are valuables there's always the chance of theft. Your insurance should provide enough cover to fully replace your equipment with brand new items if necessary, right there at the resort. Even if you plan to hire your equipment, the hire company will probably require insurance - and your own policy is likely to be cheaper than the standard one they'll try to sell you.

- Liability

Even the best skiiers or snowboarders can be involved in an accident in which someone else gets injured. Whether or not an accident is your fault, you could end up being taken to court and this is usually a long and expensive process. A decent insurance policy will cover costs from any legal proceedings and / or compensation payments.

- Closure of Piste

If bad weather (or warm weather!) means that the pistes are closed and you can't ski, your policy should pay you compensation to cover the costs of any pre-booked lessons or lift fees, and many will even include a payment simply to cover the inconvenience of not being able to ski.

- Off Piste

A final point to note is that a standard Winter Sports Travel Insurance will probably only cover you for accidents that occur when skiing on designated pistes. If you plan to go off-piste, then make sure your insurance will cover this - you'll probably have to pay a supplement.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Student Travel Insurance - For Your Safety!

Many student travellers overlook insurance, but it can be tremendously important, providing peace of mind for you and your family back home. Student Travel Insurance offers you a solace when you've planned to travel abroad. Most policies provide insurance cover for your baggage, medical expenses and cancellation, making sure you have the help you need when you need it most. When buying a policy, check with your insurer that it covers you for any extra activities you may participate in, such as bungee jumping, white water rafting.

When planning on travelling abroad in a gap year, Cheap Travel Insurance is absolutely vital for peace of mind and safety. Take a look online to find student flights, bus, rail and travel insurance. Travelling abroad in a gap year is recommended by many colleges and universities as it offers great experience for students as well.

There are a number of excellent travelogue sites online, offering advice and suggestions from experienced travellers. Many blogs focus on specific areas and can offer fantastic insight into your chosen destination. Just ensure that you leave a planned itinerary at home. Your family and friends can have a check on your progress.

Planning to study abroad? You get covered for up to 2 years as long as the duration of your course. Additional cover is available for computers or valuable items. Get insured under a protective cover known as student travel insurance UK.

Be prepared for all uncertainties - with a good insurance cover!

Get an annual insurance cover for your multiple trips. You can travel up to a maximum of 42 days in one trip. Such insurance covers you for multi lingual medical assistance. Insurance experts provide Students Travel with low cost, discounted prices on airfare and other popular travel needs! Always apply with organisation which is well associated with a select group of high quality companies that offer specific services to meet your travel insurance needs.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Do I Really Need UK Travel Insurance?

When you think of why you'd need travel insurance you probably get images of broken legs whilst skiing, Car rental mishaps in the Mediterranean and eating some dodgy shrimp. You wouldn't normally associate a weekend break within the UK as somewhere you'd need travel insurance.

But the truth is that wherever you go in the UK you are still going to need travel insurance, just not in the way you'd normally expect. Since you'll still be in the UK you won't be claiming against your life insurance if you get injured, that's what health insurance is for.

The situations you'd need to claim against UK Travel Insurance would normally be the occasions where you have to cancel your holiday or cut it short. One such situation could be that you go on holiday for two weeks, when halfway through you injure yourself meaning you have to go to the hospital, subsequently cutting your holiday short. Aside from the medical costs you could end up being lumbered with charges for your accommodation even though you're stuck in a hospital bed and not even at the hotel anymore!

This is unfortunate but hotels are well within their rights to charge you as otherwise they could have filled that booking with someone else. Luckily your travel insurance policy covers events such as these and can help regain most of the expenses which normally would be lost.

It's also becoming more popular for people to take advantage of cheap domestic flights and taking the plane as opposed to a long and winding road trip, so if you were to cancel your holiday even due to bereavement then normally you'd be left out of pocket, Travel Insurance covers this too fortunately. This would also cover lost luggage as even with domestic flights it's not unknown for your bags to disappear off the face of the earth!

Invariably whilst you're away you'll be taking a camera with you, and in this day and age probably a mobile phone or MP3 player too, if you were to lose or damage it while on holiday then you may not be able to afford a replacement out of your own money.

Source: EzineArticles.com

Monday, August 4, 2008

Choosing Backpacker Travel Insurance

If you are planning a gap year and want to travel around the world visiting exotic locations and experiencing destinations that are off the beaten track on a backpacking trip, then one of the things that is absolutely essential to get is Backpacker Travel Insurance. These specialist policies are designed to provide you with a comprehensive insurance cover throughout your journey around the world, and ensure that no matter where you go, or what trouble you get into, you will be able to get help and assistance.

For many travellers, one of their main concerns is their possessions. If you are travelling around the world in the 21st century, the chances are that you will be taking plenty of technological items to document your trip. Digital camera, lap top computer, and MP3 players are all popular gadgets, and many people travel with these in their pack. Thieves will often target young travellers, knowing that they have got this kind of expensive equipment with them, and will try and steal it. With a back packer travel insurance policy, you will be covered for replacement goods, and the insurance company will be able to handle your claim no matter where you are in the world.

Visiting countries that are off the beaten track will often mean coming into contact with cultures that are different to that which you have experienced before, and this will often entail trying dishes and food that you will not have tried before. In addition to this, in some countries, you will also find that you are exposed to drinking water that is not properly treated.

This can lead to various types of sickness that are unpleasant and inconvenient, not to mention expensive when it comes to getting local medical treatment . Medical centres in some countries are lacking in facilities and yet still charge tourists a considerable amount for relatively basic treatments. You will need travel insurance, make sure that it includes medical cover; that it is valid for the whole duration of your trip; and most importantly, that it provides cover in all of the countries where you may need it. While insurance comparison websites such as Qotr do offer the ability to compare a huge number of travel insurance policies to find the best deal, it is important to contact your provider to add on any activities that you are planning to try such as diving in order to be confident that you are covered.

Source: articlesbase.com