Eye on Travel Insurance
Eye on Travel Insurance » Q&A
by Wayne Wirtanen Following are some ITN readers’ letters and inquiries that I have received recently regarding travel insurance. The first came from Judie Kesson of Coronado, California:
Eye on Travel Insurance » Why are there no travel insurance companies?
by Wayne Wirtanen, Contributing Editor Riddle time! Why are there no travel insurance companies, and when is travel insurance not travel insurance?
Eye on Travel Insurance — Consider the odds
Consider the odds when deciding whether or not to purchase travel insurance Not much help from the travel insurance people
Eye on Travel Insurance » STA Travel, an alternative travel insurance source
STA Travel (7890 S. Hardy St., Ste. 110, Tempe, AZ 85284; phone 800/777-0112, fax 480/753-5847, or visit www.statravel.com) is primarily a student travel agency, but their modestly priced and comprehensive travel insurance policies are available to anyone.
Eye on Travel Insurance » Rejected claims
Purchasers of travel insurance are frequently disappointed (and/or irate) when a claim is denied, often swearing never to use that insurance company again and writing to ITN suggesting that its readers do the same.
Eye on travel insurance »Long-term travel insurance coverage
A letter from Grace Slavsky of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, asked, “Is it possible to buy travel insurance covering trip cancellation/medical evacuation, etc., on an ANNUAL basis for us travelers who take several trips throughout the year? It would save us frequent travelers a lot of hassle.
Travel insurance industry response to the South Asia tsunami
How did the travel insurance industry respond to the Asian tsunami disaster in December 2004 and how did this affect travel insurance coverages for this period and for subsequent travel?
On the subject of travel insurance
Below are four letters/inquiries from ITN readers on the subject of travel insurance. Each is immediately followed by my response or recommendations.
Travel insurance inquiry
Because my husband and I travel extensively, we are paying out exorbitant amounts of money on comprehensive travel insurance when we only require to be covered for certain risks.
Little-known sources of emergency medical evacuation coverage
Among the choices to be made regarding travel insurance, emergency medical evacuation coverage continues to be what I recommend most.
SARS and travel insurance, plus websites and more
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has added a whole new dimension to international travel. This is a significant concern for mature travelers, as it has been reported that the fatality rate of patients over the age of 65 is 50%.
Cancel anytime, for any reason
Relaxed cancellation policies Reacting to the current uncertain travel conditions, airlines and tour companies have adopted (probably temporarily) flexible terms and conditions that will allow travelers to cancel or reschedule trips easily and with little or no penalty.
Free travel insurance (limited time only)! Cancel for any reason and get a 100% refund
In what may well be a travel industry first, Uniworld, to encourage the travel-shy, is offering free travel insurance on most of their 60 European river cruises in April and May of this year.
Travel insurance complications due to the September 11, 2001, attack
How did the travel insurance industry respond to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack and how did this affect travel insurance coverages for this period and for subsequent travel?
Travel insurance, travel safety and State Department advisories
Trip-cancellation/interruption coverage Will your trip-cancellation policy pay if you cancel a tour prior to departure because you feel uneasy due to political unrest or threats of terrorist problems? The short answer is no.
The following information comprises expansion and correction of the article 'Travel insurance trend: dumping the over-age-75 traveler?' (April 2000, page 68)
Stand-alone emergency medical evacuation service Worldwide Assistance provides emergency medical evacuation service, but it must be purchased through Travel Assistance International (phone 800/821-2828 or 317/818-2099).
Travel insurance trend: dumping the over-age-75 traveler?
Effective April 1999, TEN (Traveler’s Emergency Network; phone 800/275-4836) no longer provides emergency evacuation service for anyone over the age of 74.