Factors Used in Calculating Term Life Insurance Quotes
Obtaining a term life insurance quote generally isn’t that complicated. If you are in excellent physical condition, then your most difficult task will be deciding which term life insurance quote is worthy of pursuing.
However, if you’re looking for term life insurance but have pre-existing medical conditions, the process likely will be more involved.
Besides looking at how healthy you are, your term life insurance quote will vary based on two other important factors: the coverage you seek and the term.
While it might seem appropriate to arbitrarily select a figure for each of these categories, it’s advisable to put some thought into each. When filling in the term and the coverage on your term life insurance quote application, consider the following.
Understanding coverage
Coverage is the amount the life insurance policy will pay to beneficiaries as a death benefit. It will be paid as a one-time, lump sum payment and it should be enough to enable them to live as they are accustomed to living. Do you know how much coverage will be sufficient? Ten thousand sounds like a decent amount, but in reality, it isn’t.
Most life insurance agents will advise you to select an amount of coverage equivalent to your current income multiplied by the number of years until you retire. That provides a good baseline for your life insurance quote, but you might want to factor in a few other circumstances, beginning with the realization that your family’s expenses may change over time.
While your current salary is (hopefully) sufficient to cover your current expenses, it may not be enough in the future. End of life costs alone will set your family back thousands.
And how about this? What if your spouse had to return to school in order to get a better-paying job? College tuition right now is seeing double-digit increases every year and that’s not likely to change. Also consider how life will change if your spouse, who may not work now, has to return to the work force in your absence. Such a change likely will create many new expenses.
One thing many applicants don’t consider when requesting a term life insurance quote is the rate of inflation. It’s certain to have an impact on the cost of goods. You should also realize that the lives of your surviving beneficiaries will change.
You cannot predict how, but you need to consider there may be marriage, family additions, new cars or homes and other such changes later on.
Selecting the term
Figuring out an appropriate term is not as difficult, but will impact your life insurance quote. If you have children you might choose a 15-or 20-year term. That will protect them until they’re 18 or have completed college.
If you’re older with adult children, consider the average life expectancy of your family to help determine an appropriate term.
And remember, you can increase or decrease these two factors on your term life insurance quote until you get the most coverage you can afford.
Get a Term Life Insurance Quote in the UK. Our rates are quiet possibly the lowest in the UK.
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[tags]Cheap Term Life Insurance, cheap life insurance, cheap insurance[/tags]
Protecting Your Important Files
So, you’ve created the perfect filing system, you can put your hands on any piece of paper in 30 seconds or less, and your desk is in order. What happens if your house burns down tomorrow — would all of your vital records go up in smoke? If you had to go into the hospital or (heaven forbid) died next week, would your loved ones be able to find what they need to manage your affairs? There is much more to organizing than just making sure everything has a home. You need to make sure your important paperwork is PROTECTED and easy to access in the case of an EMERGENCY.
FIRE, FLOOD, OR TORNADO
I first started thinking about the value of protecting important records when my sister’s neighborhood was hit with an F5 tornado. The houses I had grown up around were decimated — in some places, there was nothing left but the foundation. Fortunately, there were very few casualties, but I watched on the news as the community tried to put itself back together again. As I thought about all of the things these people had lost — their homes, their cars, their personal possessions — I realized how difficult it would be to REBUILD your life without paperwork. How long would it take you to file a claim with your insurance company, if you didn’t know your policy number? How difficult would it be to handle your finances if your checks, bank statements, and credit card info was destroyed? How could you get the help you needed without birth certificates, social security cards, and other personal information?
The goal here is not to be pessimistic, but PREPARED. You should keep a list of all your important numbers (bank account, credit card, insurance policies, social security) and contact information (addresses, phone numbers, and your contact person) for anything that you would need if disaster struck. You should also consider storing your vital records (birth certificates, wills, insurance policies) and your list someplace safe — keeping copies in your everyday files for quick reference. Someplace safe means a safe deposit box, a locked drawer at your place of employment, your mother’s house, or a fire safe in your closet. And it’s also a good idea to leave copies of this information with your attorney and CPA — the two professionals who will be most involved with your situation if you do face a major emergency.
IF YOU HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM
Another important piece of paperwork to consider is your HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY. If your personal possessions are damaged or destroyed, the insurance company isn’t just going to write you a check for the amount printed on your policy. They are going to ask you to ITEMIZE everything that you lost and ESTIMATE its value. If you had to, right now, could you make a list of everything that you own and how much it is worth? Probably not. And it would be even more difficult during a time of crisis when you aren’t thinking straight. So the key is to create your list before you are put into that situation.
You have several different options for creating a household inventory. The best choice is to walk around your house with a VIDEO CAMERA and record everything that you own. You are welcome to make comments about your belongings as you film — “We bought that TV last year and it cost $600,” or “Grandma Miller gave us that table; it was made in 1865.” If you don’t have a video camera, just take still SNAPSHOTS of each item. Then, you will need to estimate the year of purchase and the value at purchase of each piece. If you have the receipt, make a copy and clip it to your list. If an item is particularly valuable or an antique, you may wish to have an APPRAISAL done and include the appraisal with your list. Your household inventory should be stored with your other important papers — but don’t just stick it away and forget about it. You need to plan a time each year to update your list — adding on any new items you have acquired since the last inventory.
MAKING IT EASY ON YOUR HEIRS
No one likes to think about death, but it is a fact of life. Grief is hard enough to handle, without having to deal with confusion over the deceased’s paperwork and final wishes. You can make things easier on your loved ones by getting your affairs in order now. Start by creating a DOCUMENT LOCATOR — listing where all of your important papers are stored. And remember that safe deposit boxes are often sealed at death, so keep your funeral arrangements and wills somewhere more accessible. Your family will need to know the location of the following records:
legal (wills, powers of attorney, trust documents, special bequests, safe combination)
family (birth/adoption/guardian, social security, citizenship, marriage/divorce, military)
banking (trusts, loans, list of accounts, statements/cancelled checks, check/passbooks)
investments (CD, securities, stock/bond/mutual fund, retirement plan, IRA, annuities)
business (incorporation papers, contracts/agreements, computer back-up)
deeds/titles/registrations (title insurance, property, home inventory, vehicles)
insurance (life, other death benefits, property and casualty, health, homeowners, auto)
funeral instructions (burial instructions, cemetery plot deeds)
contacts (friends/relatives/business, attorney, CPA, insurance, broker, executor)
Indicate the location of each — at your residence, office, in a safe deposit box (and where the key is!), or with your attorney, accountant, or brokerage house. Be sure to include the address, direction, and any other important contact information.
MEMORIES COUNT AS VITAL RECORDS TOO
Everything we’ve talked about so far related to legal or financial records. But what about your memorabilia? It is just as devastating (if not more so) to lose years worth of photographs and love letters as it is to have your important files destroyed. But you can take some preventative measures to protect your beloved memories, as well. If you are computer savvy, think about scanning your photos and storing them on a CD-ROM (which you put in your fire safe or safe deposit box). If you don’t have access to that kind of technology, at least store your negatives (clearly labeled and organized chronologically or categorically) away someplace safe. In either instance, you can always have your photos reprinted if you need to.
You can do the same thing with physical objects as well. Take PHOTOS of your most beloved possessions, copy your favorite correspondence, and stash them all away in your fire safe. You might even consider getting a fire safe big enough to hold some of your original memorabilia. I purchased a fire safe that looks like a 2-drawer file cabinet — the top drawer holds my photo albums and the bottom drawer is for important paperwork. Just remember that photos and negatives are more sensitive to heat than paper — you will want a different grade of “fire proof” for these items.
acing a personal crisis is stressful enough, without the headaches of dealing with lost paperwork and missing information. But by taking a proactive stance, and a few preventative measures, you can save yourself and your loved ones a great deal of pain — make the recovery process a lot quicker and easier.
Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com — offering “a world of organizing solutions!” Visit http://www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau — and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all the tools you need to succeed. If you would like to reprint this article, please send in an e-mail request to ramona@onlineorganizing.com
[tags]organize, paper, files, vital records, documents, disaster, emergency, will, insurance, estate[/tags]
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover
Every homeowner should realize the importance of homeowner’s insurance policy. Homeowners insurance policy not only protects the homeowners from man-made and natural disasters, but it also protects you from several other situations.
The basic homeowners insurance policy pays you in case of any damage due to fire, severe storms, tornados and hurricanes. Damage to your property, possessions and home are primary elements to be covered. Coverage provided by the policy is not the most important aspect; the most important aspect is the amount they provide in case of any disaster.
Lost of possessions like furniture, electrical appliances, jewelry, clothing are also generally covered by some of homeowners insurance policies, up to a specific percentage of the policy.
Liability coverage protects you in case you are responsible for someone else’s injury or property damage. In such cases home owners insurance will soon provide you minimum 18,000 USD as coverage. Policyholder can buy an extra premium of $1.5 million. Liability coverage also covers certain injuries that happen within the premises of your home such as your dog biting someone. A sum of $700 is paid to the insurer with basic homeowners policy; this can increase up to $5,000 after paying extra.
Dwelling coverage will pay you in case of damage to your outstanding building (garage, storage, shed, fencing, boundary) and your home.
Loss of use coverage will help you in case if your home is damaged due to fire, storm or any other man made or natural calamity. Loss of use coverage will pay your expenses when your home is not suitable to live.
You must think over all the issues before purchasing a homeowners insurance. Consider the reputation of the insurance company and do not make decisions solely based on premiums of policy. Using Internet, you can find reputed home insurance company with best homeowners insurance rate. With a bit of research work you can get the best deal.
Find all you need to know about home owners insurance on the best homeowners insurance rate guide. Your house insurance source - www.leandernet.com/Home_insurance/Homeowners_insurance.php
[tags]best homeowners insurance rate, home owners insurance, homeowners insurance.[/tags]
5 Reasons Why Life Insurance Is Important To You
Life Insurance. Doesn’t it just conjure up some insurance salesman knocking on your door trying to sell you a policy that covers you for accidents only, for a small amount and costs you the earth? No? It doesn’t too me either because those days are long gone!
I prefer to call it “Life Assurance” anyway, because it is assuring you that your life is convered in the event of death and that what your life is insured for, will be paid out to your estate or policy owner.
But how many of you actually have this cover in place? I know of lots of my friends, who are in their 20’s who don’t have the cover because 1) they don’t know anything about (lack of education) and 2) they don’t think they need it and see it as an extra cost. How little they know… like anything, the earlier you start, the cheaper it is…
Following are 10 important reasons why YOU should have life assurance and why those around you too should invest in this:
Reason 1
Hello? Do you have any bills, like maybe a mortgage?? This alone is a pertinent reason to have life assurance… it means that should you die, this major bill will be paid off and not left to your survivors to deal with!
Reason 2
Young, fit and healthy? No ailments? Then this is the best time to get life assurance! Your premium will be small and if you take out a policy that allows you to keep the same premium until the age of 65, you will have considerable savings… the earlier you start, the better. And then if you develop any health issues throughout your life, it doesn’t matter, because you already have the cover in place!
Reason 3
Are you married? Do you care about your spouse? Then is it not thoughtful to make sure that your spouse does not have to worry about money should you pass before they do and vice versa? I know a couple who cancelled their life insurance and then 6 months later he was diagnosed as having stomach cancer, and died 18 months later… leaving behind a wife and two children still at home and a mortgage… and no monetry relief for his family. Is this what you want to put your partner through?
Reason 4
Want to leave a legacy for your future grand children? What better way then ensuring your estate will actually have some legacy to pass on! You can elect in your will to have the proceeds of your life assurance paid directly to your estate and then as per your will, divy up the proceeds.
Reason 5
Peace of mind… yours that is. If you can’t afford health insurance or any other insurance, you can afford life insurance… and should you develop a terminal disease… your life insurance will pay out a lump sum upon confirmation of this, allowing you to fulfil any dreams you have not achieved or to get your affairs in order.
There are many more reasons I could go into here, but you get the gist… just like you wouldn’t risk not having your car insured or your house or contents… how can you not insure your number one asset… yourself?
There are plenty of fantastic financial advisers out there. If you don’t have one, a great place to start is your bank, they have trained staff that can guide you… just make sure you read through any quotes you receive etc and make sure you understand just what you are being covered for.
My 2 cents worth 
Kat Beechum is a passionate writer. Much of the inspiration for Kat’s work comes from her varied and many interests and hobbies.
Kat lives in New Zealand with her partner and their two cats, Cooper and Phoenix.
If you found this article useful, please visit http://www.money-or-excuses.blogspot.com
[tags]life-insurance, death, risk, assurance, will, estate-planning, disease[/tags]
Read This Article If You Want To Be Safe
One of the most important things to Americans is the safety of their family, homes and themselves. In fact this is common around the world in every human breed on every continent. Self-preservation is the strongest human need in our species. It appears to also be in other species as they have defense mechanisms to shield them from predators and behavior that betters their chances of survival during an attack. The fear of loss of life, family or home is a huge motivator of mankind and that fear is constantly used by governments to keep us in line, companies to get us to buy and others who wish to influence our decision making process.
If you will recall recently the book called “Fear” by Michael Creighton, he certainly hit the nail on the head, after all since 9-11 everyone has been so afraid. Afraid of their own shadow in fact; that book would have been a best seller if it had one word in it; “Boo!”
Insurance sells based on the fear of unknown; “What if “x” happens to you; then you will be glad you had “y” insurance policy. And last time I checked insurance is one of the biggest and most profitable industries in the world except maybe pharmaceuticals, which also use the same tactic; “If you have “x” chronic symptom, then you need “y” drug otherwise you could die!”
Obviously if you are reading this article you wish to be safe just like the little bunny rabbit that runs in a zig-zag pattern to better its chances of not being eaten by an owl or hawk. The zig-zag patterns is probably not a efficient as a point to point straight line, yet we see such behavior gives the rabbit peace of mind it can live another day.
What I am saying to you is this, there are times when you have nothing to fear, expect for the changes in your life you make because of such induced fear. So consider the source the fear and what you really need to do to be safe and then ditch the rest of the fears and delete that stress and you will live a more happy and fulfilled life. Think on this.
Lance Winslow
[tags]fear, michael creighton, insurance, survival, innate, predators, motivator[/tags]
New York Speeding Ticket FAQ
Every case is different and there are no guarantees. Below are rough answers to some questions we hear frequently.
Q: Will I have to go to Court for my speeding ticket?
A: It depends. Without a lawyer you usually do have to appear in Court. In most courts, good lawyers can resolve your speeding ticket or other traffic charge without you having to go to Court. Criminal Procedure Law 340.50(2) allows for a lawyer to appear on your behalf, if the proper paperwork is taken care of. It is possible that the prosecution will object, but that is not common. There are a few courts in the area where you will have to attend, but that is rare.
Q: Do I need a lawyer for a speeding ticket?
A: No, but in many courts a lawyer will get you a better deal than you will get for yourself, with fewer points, a lower fine, less impact on your insurance, and less hassle.
Q: Will my insurance rates go up if I get a speeding ticket?
A: A speeding conviction or other moving violation will be reported on your New York State driving record. If you are insured in New York, points on your license can affect your insurance. It is possible that your insurance company won’t find out, but the odds are that they will. The best way to keep your rates down is to get a good lawyer to negotiate to get you a reduction. Insurance Law 2335 discusses in detail what violations can be used by insurance companies to raise your rates. A good lawyer will consider those rules in resolving your ticket.
For out-of-state drivers, there is no simple answer. It is our understanding that New York State reports moving violations to the “Drivers License Compact”, and that this can affect insurance rates for out-of-state drivers. It seems like this is applied inconsistently. In some cases the home state never finds out. We have seen cases where they do. It is also our understanding that New York reports moving violations of Quebec and Ontario drivers directly to those provinces.
For New York drivers who get out-of-state tickets, these generally will not affect you. The exception is tickets in Quebec and Ontario. However, it is always possible that your insurance company will find out, and if they do, your rates might go up. Under Insurance Law 2335, it should not affect you in New York, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try.
When good lawyers negotiate plea bargains, they minimize the impact on your insurance rates. For out-of-state drivers, a lawyer might seek a reduction to something that has points in New York but not in your state or province.
Q: Can we beat a speeding ticket or traffic charge?
A: Most speeding tickets and traffic charges are difficult to beat and it will cost a lot more to fight than to make a deal. The police usually do a good job and most defendants are guilty. Still, the police sometimes slip up. The most common way you can beat a ticket is if the officer doesn’t show up. That is very rare. The main reason you would fight a ticket is if you already have several points and you can’t get a reduction that will save it. Also, if your job requires a clean license, it may be cost effective. You should discuss this with an experienced traffic lawyer.
Q: What do lawyers charge for a speeding ticket?
A: In upstate New York fees seem to range from $200 to $500 for most ordinary tickets. If it is a case that will go to trial, the fees would be higher, perhaps $1000 or more. Fees for tickets in New York City and downstate counties tend to be higher.
Q: What is the point system?
A: When you get convicted of a moving violation the DMV records points on your New York license. All moving violations are at least two points. Most are three points or more. New York recently added a new surcharge of $100 per year for three years if you get six points, plus $25 per year for each additional point.
The following table shows the point values assigned to moving traffic violations. The “points” are assessed against your driving record based on the date you committed the violation, not the date you were convicted in court. If you accumulate 11 or more points in 18 months, you will be called to a DMV hearing, after which your license may be suspended or revoked. You will be offered the option of waiving the hearing or accepting a definite period of suspension.
Some license revocations and suspensions are mandatory and do not depend on points. These include three speeding violations within 18 months, and convictions involving alcohol or drugs.
VIOLATIONS POINTS
Speeding (mph over posted limit)
1 to 10 3
11 to 20 4
21 to 30 6
31 to 40 8
More than 40 11
Reckless Driving 5
Failure to stop for a School Bus 5
Following too closely (tailgating) 4
Inadequate Brakes 4
(while driving employer’s vehicle) 2
Failing to Yield Right-Of-Way 3
Violation Involving Traffic Signal, Stop Sign, or Yield Sign 3
Railroad Crossing Violation 3
Improper Passing or Lane Use 3
Leaving scene of an incident involving property damage or injury to an animal 3
Child safety restraint violation 3
Any other moving violation 2
Albany Lawyer Warren Redlich practices in Albany, New York. He is a graduate of Albany Law School, Stanford University (Masters), and Rice University. He handles criminal defense including speeding tickets, personal injury and other types of litigation.
[tags]new york, ny, speeding ticket, lawyer, lawyers, traffic court, points, license, insurance, violation[/tags]
What is an SR-22 and Why is it Important
The SR-22 is a form that serves as proof to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that you have auto insurance, more precisely motor vehicle liability insurance.
If you have to carry an SR-22 your insurance company is under the obligation to inform the DMV if your policy is canceled, terminated or if it lapses. Canceling your insurance policy will generally result in your license being revoked until you acquire insurance coverage again.
You may be required to carry an SR-22 in general as a result of being considered a high-risk driver. Falling into this category might result from
* driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
* driving while intoxicated (DWI)
* serious moving violations or
* causing an accident while uninsured
In general proof of being covered by an SR-22 is necessary for the reinstatement of driver’s privileges after they have been revoked.
Regulations on how long the SR-22 has to be carried vary from state to state, but coverage as a result for violations other than DWI and Refusal (refusing to take a breath test) convictions usually have to be maintained for 3 years.
If you have been convicted of DWI or Refusal, you will generally be required to have SR-22 for 5 years on a first offense and increasing amounts of time with subsequent offenses.
Jackie Smith, Executive Writer
http://www.quotella.com
[tags]auto, policy, insurance, coverage[/tags]
Which Insurance Best Fits Your Needs Term Life Or Whole Life Insurance Policy
There are two general types of life insurance; Term life and Permanent life. Term life is the simplest form of life insurance and can provide substantial coverage with affordable premiums for specified periods of time of one year (annual renewable term) up to 30 years. Permanent life is a form of insurance that spans your entire life. It is more expensive than Term life insurance, but allows you to build cash value.
Determining the type of life insurance to fit your needs depends on a number of factors, including:
Planning a Trip How To Plan For The Unexpected
Have you ever taken a trip where it seemed that everything went wrong? What should have been a care free, relaxing vacation or an efficient business trip quickly turns into a stress-filled nightmare. No one likes to dwell on the negative, but the old saying “hope for the best, and plan for the worst” has a lot of truth to it. Many things can go wrong and planning ahead will help you avoid unwanted drama, stress and hassles. Travel delays or accidents, hidden fees and costs, lost or delayed luggage, medical or dental emergencies, travel accidents, rental car damage, potential terrorist attack alerts, emergency assistance problems, identity theft and more are common problems that can, and most likely, will occur on some occasion during trip taking. In hindsight could most of the hassles on that trip have been prevented or made more bearable by planning for the unexpected? Here are some tips for doing just that.
1. Start planning your trip early. Four to six weeks before you depart is not too early to start planning. If you are purchasing a comprehensive or all-inclusive package, make sure you research the agency you are dealing with. Some offer packages that guarantee no surprise up-charges or add-ons. If you don’t understand their policies or package rates, make them explain it to you until you do understand it. Asking the right questions beforehand can eliminate disappointment over unrealized expectations. Know what you are getting for your money. Never assume that what you think you are hearing is factual until it is fully explained and you see it guaranteed in writing. If you are planning a business trip on short notice, use an agency that you trust, or one that you consider reputable.
If short notice trips are normal for you, or if you know that travel could be required on short notice due to an emergency situation, keep a bag packed in your closet with the things you consider basic necessities. Include at least one complete change of clothes, and necessary toiletries. Also include a small amount of your regular medication, if applicable, and important account numbers and phone numbers. If packing space is at a premium, purchase sample size toiletries to keep in your “short notice” bag. Make sure it is of carry-on size for airline travel. This will take some stress off in the event that plans must be made quickly. If your luggage is lost or delayed, you will be glad you took the time to pack your carry-on bag in this manner.
2. Research your trip thoroughly. The Internet is a good choice for doing this. To get the best deals and the best accommodations to suit your preferences, there is no substitute for being informed and fully aware of what is available. In the information age, there are huge amounts of travel information available on the World Wide Web. Tickets, and even permits, in some cases, can be printed on your home computer printer from the Internet. Rental car reservations, hotel reservations are made easy for convenient prices and quality comparisons on-line.
3. Plan for the unexpected: Troubles can occur when you least anticipate them, so take along some peace of mind and protect your trip investment by purchasing travel insurance. Make sure the travel insurance you purchase covers job loss or transfers, uninhabitable accommodations, emergency assistance, travel accidents, delays, lost or delayed luggage, weather-affected cancellation, medical and dental expenses, terrorism, and identity theft. In addition, plans should offer flexible coverage periods for pre-existing medical conditions. Choose a company that answers all calls with a live person, not an automated attendant. Confirm all your purchases and reservations at a later time either on the Web or by phone to ensure no glitches have occurred.
4. Make sure you will have all the arrangements and paperwork you’ll need- airline tickets, passports, visas, maps, rental car and hotel reservations, permits as well as health and travel insurance documentation. Carry enough cash for emergencies, phone calls or unexpected fees. Don’t carry large amounts of cash. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are a better alternative. Make a list of all the pertinent numbers of your credit card, driver’s license, visas, passport, ticket, reservation, prescriptions and any other important documentation. Include any emergency phone numbers to call if any of these items are lost or stolen. Put a copy of this list in your carry-on, and carry the other one on your person.
Have someone you trust watch your home or apartment, or house-sit while you are away. Think about the things that need to be done in your absence- watching and feeding your pets, watering your plants, etc. If you don’t have a house/pet-sitter, have a light left on inside your residence so it would appear that someone is home at night. If you have someone checking up on things periodically, have them rotate the lighting and retrieve your mail and your newspapers. Another option to this is to have your newspaper and mail delivery temporarily suspended. You can also put your lighting on inexpensive timers, which can closely imitate your normal lighting routines.
5. Write out an itinerary- before you head out the door, give someone you know and trust a written copy of your trip plans. This should include: Your estimated time of departure, mode of transportation (flight numbers and/or make, model and license plate numbers), the names, addresses and phone numbers (especially cell phone numbers) of all group members traveling, any relevant medical conditions that may affect you or your travelling companions. Also include your travel insurance policy names, numbers and beneficiary information, your hotels’ phone number and address and expected time of arrival, time of return, and all pertinent return travel information.
Make arrangements to contact the person holding your itinerary at specific intervals during the trip, and then again when your trip is over. Agree with your contact person on a procedure for contacting the authorities if you do not report in by a certain time. This can be especially important when traveling in high-risk areas of the world, or even anywhere outside the United States. In some cases, if you have a pet and choose to hire a reputable pet-sitter or house-sitter, this can be your contact person.
In short, the quality of your trip depends largely on proper planning for the unexpected. Most of us like to think that things will come off without a hitch, but the truth is that even with the best of planning, things can, and will go wrong from time to time. Planning early, thorough research, double checking arrangements, coverage and documentation, and writing out an itinerary may not completely dispel unexpected problems, but it does produce a peace of mind and assurance knowing that there is a plan in place to deal with the unexpected if it does come about.
This article was written by Rita R. Powers with support from CSA Travel Protection, providers of Travel Insurance and travel assistance services. For information on how travel insurance can add to your travel experience, please visit http://www.csatravelprotection.com. Any reproductions of this article must provide a link back to CSA Travel Protection.
[tags]Travel, Insurance, Vacation, Holidays[/tags]
Considering Travel Insurance Okanagan, B.C. Man Loses Kidney In Costa Rica Hospital!
For all the future travelers that have the opportunity to read this story, I would hope that after you finish this article, you would highly consider Travel Insurance!
As a former travel Agent, when I read sad stories about travelers that have bad medical experiences abroad, it starts to make my stomach turn because I would quickly check all my client files to make sure they have all purchased some form of medical and/or cancellation policies from me prior to their travel.
However, when he awoke in the Costa Rica hospital where he had admitted himself, he quickly found out that his kidney was removed! This young man’s jaw was never fixed and the medical doctor in Costa Rica claimed several of his internal organs were damaged, and out of all the organs that were injured, they had to remove one of his kidneys. Makes you go Hmmm!
Now in my professional opinion, I would classify Costa Rica as a popular destination that I would recommend to many of my past clients to visit for their ecotourism and exotic vacation appeal. The problem is that when we suggest these destinations that are glorified as paradises, we sometimes forget to tell them that these vacation destinations don’t have medical facilities that are comparable to North American standards, and also not all facilities operate in the best faith.
All the facts about this incident are not proven yet, but the truth of the matter is in this incident, having the proper travel medical insurance coverage could have been the difference in this gentleman coming home safely with a fixed jaw and his kidney intact.
How Does Medical Travel Protection Policies Eliminate Situations Like This, You Ask?
Keep this in perspective due to the nature of the incident. The facts are still coming in about this mans occurrence Costa Rican hospital, and I’m not totally certain he did not have travel coverage, but in my professional opinion, if he did have a reputable comprehensive travel medical policy, I truly believe this situation would not have happened.
Here is my explanation that you can apply to having quality medical coverage. When you visit your travel agent, or decide to book your vacation online, many of the agencies and online companies will offer you an insurance policy that is designed specifically for your travel protection while away from your originating country. Due to a large percentage of your medical costs that may not be covered by the country you live in, travel medical emergency policies are there to protect you from the additional costs that your country will not be covering.
Let’s take this one step further. While you’re away on vacation, the Travel Medical/Cancellation Company you purchased your policy from now has a vested interest in your physical and financial protection. However, they also have a reputation and a financial interest in their company! By saying this, they must make sure that claims that are paid out are legitimate, and are not abused by many of the un-regulated foreign medical facilities that treat patients for emergency situations.
To control these illegal practices, most, if not all, travel insurance providers (including online Insurance companies) establish worldwide relationships with a great number of medical facilities in the tourist areas, and in this relationship, the selected Travel Insurance Company regulates them with very strict rules and guidelines.
This is why it’s important to read the policy terms and conditions, and understand what is required as the policyholders must follow these terms for their own protection under emergency situations. What many conditions state are that the people who get injured due to an unexpected situation, must contact the insurer prior to admitting themselves to a hospital, or a large percentage of their claim may not be paid.
Now I know many of you may be saying that if you were not conscious at the time you were admitted to a hospital, that’s beyond your control, and you’re right! However, upon becoming aware, you must at your earliest opportunity advise the Insurance Company where you are, and if it’s not a regulated hospital on their list, they will make arrangements to remove you to their preferred medical facility.
Why Does A Travel Insurance Company Go To All This Trouble?
This is where we continue from the story about the young man that had his kidney removed. Again, I’m going by my own opinion and no one else, and like I mentioned prior I don’t have all the facts, but in my profession I strongly believe that if this person had coverage with a reputable Travel Insurance Company, he would have more than likely contacted their toll free worldwide number, and talked to professional staff that are trained in the medical field.
He would have been directed to the correct hospital, and when he arrived, upon the instructions of the Insurance staff, he would have passed this information on to the medical staff at the Costa Rican hospital. This does one of two things, it gives the Insurance Company the power to regulate and make sure that only the necessary surgeries are taking place, and because they’re paying the bill, they will ensure that every situation is medically documented for any future liability.
I can’t guarantee that having the medical coverage would have avoided this situation, but I have to say when you eliminate all the risks by working with the Medical Insurance provider, you have a better opportunity in walking out of that foreign hospital with the peace-of-mind that you’re not going back home without all your valuable functioning organs.
About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) - William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com Not only a great source for Discount Caribbean Vacations, but also providing important Travel Insurance information to protect your vacation investment! We encourage you to visit our website to read many of our informative articles and tips on how you can make your vacation safe and worry free!
[tags]travel insurance, travel, insurance, trip, policy, medical, online, services, emergency, health[/tags]
