Archive for November 2nd, 2008

A short guide to travel insurance

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Travel Insurance - A Need to Know guide?

Travel insurance protects holiday expenses against adverse events such as cancellation and interruption and also reimburses medical expenses, the loss or damage of property and transit delays.

Many millions of travellers and holiday makers purchase some form of insurance every year, but few people know really what it is and how it can be defined. If you know what is included, and what is not you will be able to make the most of your protection, and get reimbursed fairly.

There are four main categories of travel insurance:

1. Health and Medical reasons

Emergency evacuation: This garuantees emergency transportation to either a local hospital in the event that the traveller is unable to get there by themselves or back to a hospital near the traveller’s home town. If family members are covered on the same policy they can travel back home also.

Medical reasons: This reimburses emergency medical and dental costs. Nearly all holiday insurance plans work by reimbursing the traveller after they have paid locally for treatment. Claims are usually paid within 7 - 10 working days. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered by most policies if the policy is purchased within (at the most) 21 days from the date the traveller made the first payment or deposit.

2. Delays and cancellation or curtailment

Cancellation: Re-imbursement comes into effect if travellers have booked and paid for a holiday, but are unable to embark because of personal illness or injury, death (of the individual or of a family member), adverse weather conditions, transport strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, sudden unemployment, jury duty or by sustaining serious damage to their home causing it to be uninhabitable due to fire or flooding.

Delay: This reimburses travellers for hotel, food or clothing expenses in the event of a flight delay. Some plans also cover costs associated with catching up with a cruise should another delay cause the traveller to miss embarkation.
Interruption: Insurance companies pay money to policy holders abroad if they have to cut short their trip due to illness, death (of the traveller or a family member), terrorism, weather, airline strikes, bankruptcy, sudden unemployment, and other adverse conditions which mean that, due to events outside the control of the holiday-maker, a trip has to be curtailed.

3. Death:

Accidental death - covers death or dismemberment at any time of your trip. Usually garuantees the lowest amount of coverage due to a higher risk
Air Flight accident - this covers death or dismemberment during an air flight only. Usually garuantees the highest amount of coverage due to fairly low likelihood of this occurring.

Common carrier - Covers death or dismemberment while travelling on public transport such as a plane, ferry, train bus or taxi.

4. Loss or damage of property:

Baggage loss - reimburses travellers for lost, stolen or damaged personal items. This coverage is usually restricted to the duration of the trip and not confined to baggage damaged or lost by the airline. There are two policy limits, total claim and per item maximum. Some policies also place limits on the type of items that can be claimed for - such as precious jewellery, laptops and sporting goods

Hire Car damage - This reimburses travellers for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. It is designed to allow the traveller to decline collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage offered by the car rental companies. Liability coverage should still be purchased through the car rental company. Rental Car Damage coverage is also often included with the credit card used to pay for the car rental which is often matches the coverage provided in the policy.

Assistance services - garuantees a 24-hour collect telephone advice and assistance service to travellers. This service can be used anytime a traveller needs advice. Make sure you keep a copy of this number in several places in your luggage or on your person when you move around.

To conclude

Travel Insurance from Holiday Insurance Web

The 411 on different types of auto insurance

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

The basic reason why anyone requires auto insurance is for protection for both you and your car. Depending on your location you have a number of options to choose from for the type of auto insurance you require. Initially, it can be confusing with the plethora of choices available to consumers today. But by getting an understanding of the different types of auto insurances, the task is certainly made easier.

Apart from a handful of states, all the others require a minimal amount of liability insurance. This type of insurance is mainly meant to protect the occupants of the other car when you are responsible for any damage. It covers their medical bills and car repair but not you or your vehicle. For yourself, the insurance you need is comprehensive or collision insurance.

Auto insurance quotes for collision insurance are much higher than liability insurance mainly due to the fact that the coverage is a lot more. It pays for the repairs required for your car as well as your medical bills irrespective of whether or not you were at fault in an accident. Comprehensive insurance covers a majority of other kinds of damage to your vehicle including fire, vandalism or natural disasters.

Based on the particular circumstances, various deductibles can be opted for that will alter the total estimated annual cost for collision and comprehensive auto insurance quotes.

Medical payment and personal injury protection are also available with some companies. They increase medical coverage and sometimes even cover lost wages, childcare costs and related expenses owing to accidents.

Bodily injury coverage is an important coverage in addition to the minimum requirement coverage. This is for auto accidents where you were at fault and in situations where the injury of the other vehicles’ occupants exceeds their personal injury coverage. Lacking this coverage gives the victim of the accident the right to legal action which may result in a financial responsibility being placed by the state on you and your motor vehicle report. This would remain for three years. It is also referred to as an SR22.

Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist insurance take care of you when you happen to be in an accident with those who either don’t have or have insufficient liability insurance.

Rental reimbursement and towing and labor insurance are other additional options. These costs are usually classified as add-ons or endorsements to your policy.

For auto insurance quotes companies require details about driving records, age and duration of a license, apart from inspection of your car for the purpose of certifying it.

Marcus Dubois is a veteran in the insurance industry, and recommends LowQuoter to get an affordable auto insurance quote. See www.lowquoter.com/auto/ for more information.