Monday, February 2, 2009

Why is it Vitally Important to Buy a Travel & Medical Insurance when Booking a Trip


The high travel season is at the corner now. People from all walks of life around the world are currently busy searching for the best offers of air and land travel, accommodations, vacation packages to suit their dreams, needs and budgets. Some of them have even started to make their reservations. Here I would like to emphasize one vitally important thing, which is a must to remember when booking a trip, but ignored by a great number of travelers.

Much has been written on the importance of having Medical insurance coverage while you are on a trip, away from home. This is an issue that remains somewhat ignored by many travelers. After all, they have been traveling frequently for many years, and nothing happened so far to worry about. So, to buy a travel Medical insurance should not a be a must. It is only an optional precaution!

But, reality urges us to believe traveling anywhere in the world without protection today, is a vital mistake. Regardless of where you are traveling in the world, you must have an insurance coverage to survive any unexpected attacks and disasters, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.A. Let's say, you have been planning the trip of your dreams for a long time; you have finally found the opportunity to make your long time dreams of a special trip come true.

You are so excited! You have thought of all the details. You have been actively preparing for this travel; thinking, programming, shopping spending a lot of time, money, and energy! You are proud of yourself that you have finally managed to materialize your dream! Your trip can really be an unforgettable experience from start to the end, on one condition.

When booking your trip, you should have remembered that, like most exciting events in our lives, travel has some important risks, too. For example, potential medical and/or financial risks associated with travel, can suddenly turn all the excitement and pleasures of the trip to a nightmare. Your baggage and/or your hand bag with your money, passport, credit cards in, can be stolen leaving you desperate & frustrated in a foreign country.

No one can guarantee that a natural disaster would not happen at the place you would be staying during your trip. An unexpected accident, injury or illness would suddenly ruin everything. In fact, in the recent years medical costs have increased dramatically, worldwide. How would you be able to pay the emergency medical expenses, expensive hospital bills if you needed an urgent treatment, or surgery and care during your travel when you have lost your money, credit cards, and passport? Isn't it a real nightmare?

In such a frustration, the only thing you would have needed to survive was a reliable medical and travel Short term insurance policy, wasn't it?. Especially in the light of the horrible threats on and after September 11 terrorist attacks, the war on terror, other ruthless terror attacks in Istanbul, Spain, Egypt and London, frequent flight disruptions and cancellations, airlines' bankruptcies, and more. In addition, travel suppliers such as tour operators and airlines worldwide have made cancellation policies more restrictive.



Source: EzineArticles.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

International Travel Medical Insurance Tips To Help You Find The Cheapest Now


The domestic travel insurance plans are not designed to function very well with hospitals and doctors overseas, which can add to your frustration if you have problems while you're traveling. The most serious problem the international traveler faces when he or she is on the move is the possibility of having a serious medical problem or uncovered travel insurance medical condition in a foreign country. However international travel Medical insurance goes a long way in helping to take care of the problem.

In general terms, in the travel insurance market there are two types of insurance: travel medical insurance (or also called travel health insurance) which is more heavily weighted to cover you for any health-related problems that might occur while traveling outside of your home country and has a lesser amount of trip cancellation coverage included and the other type is trip cancellation insurance.

International travel for business or pleasure keeps growing at a fast pace and isn't going to change anywhere in the near future. There are many types of international travel medical insurance today including student travel medical insurance, travel accident insurance and even backpackers travel insurance.

The watchword in international travel health insurance should be prudence and attention to the smallest details. Make sure to keep handy the addresses and phone numbers of the persons who are to be notified in the event you need to make a claim while you're away. In case any emergency medical treatment is needed, have all the expenses listed in itemized bills so you can make your claim in the US or Canada.

It's possible to get cheap international travel medical insurance. Some insurance policies don't cover any pre-existing illnesses, and the agents will ask for a history of any health or medical problems. Medical costs all around the world are skyrocketing right now, due mostly to the advances in specialized equipment and the cost of advanced medicines and training specialists in a many different fields.

Be aware that you can exclude a medical condition that is pre-existing which can lower your insurance costs but you must be sure that the condition will not worsen while you're are on your trip and cost you a lot more. Make sure that you have your coverage in place before you go abroad. Health insurance in the United States, like Medicare, should be carefully checked for the extent of the coverage in case you need to buy additional coverage.

There are so many types of health insurance today, each with its own range of small blueprints, that sometimes you're better off getting help from reputable brokers or other professionals who are in the know. Whatever compromise you choose to make between the risks and the costs in your plan, shop around not only for cheap international travel medical insurance plans, but also for a stable reputable company that gives you total information, functions with an open view and does not evade any of your questions. The time frame for the insurance policy needs to be restricted to the actual time that you're out of the country. The shorter this duration the lesser the cost, so shave off a few dollars there.

There are a few group insurance plans that are fairly cheap. If you're with a tour group for foreign travel or a visiting business group or delegation you could save money with group travel medical insurance. Some international travel health insurance plans don't accept hazardous vacations such as skydiving, paragliding, mountain climbing or ice skating. You want to make sure that the emergency evacuation is fully covered in any travel insurance that you buy.

International health insurance is definitely a must for all travelers going out of their home country today. Whether you need coverage for your vacation or your relatives are visiting you from the old country, you want to make sure you all have proper coverage for any unforeseen major medical expenses




Source: EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

How to Make Best Use of Your Medical Insurance Policy?

Purchasing medical insurance fills you with a sense of security and confidence that you and your family are well covered. But your responsibility does not end with purchasing a Medical insurance policy. Any financial product comes with a number of features and benefits, and you should take the time to understand what benefits and facilities you are entitled to receive from your medical plan. If you are fully informed about your medical plan you will be able to use it to your full advantage. Here are some tips to help you accomplish that goal:

Go Through Medical Insurance Policy In Detail

Carefully go through the policy and member handbook to learn about the benefits, coverage, and limits. It is a good idea to subscribe to a magazine or newsletter published by your insurer. These resources are particularly helpful in familiarizing yourself with the plan and company policies. Also, make sure that you are notified every time there is a change in the network of providers or covered services. You can also consult the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of the policy for additional information.

Always Maintain Records

Maintain a separate file to keep all the medical insurance related documents. Don't throw away the plan brochures and other documents. Keep all the memos along with correspondence from your employer relating to health benefits. Also save the SPD.

Medical Insurance And Hospitalization

Even though you are in perfect health right now does not mean that you will never need hospitalization in the future. So go through the policy to find out what hospitals fall under the network of your medical insurance plan. It is also important to learn beforehand as to what sort of medical conditions are defined as a health emergency, and whether these health emergencies are covered by the medical insurance policy. If your primary care doctor does not provide you with a certificate for emergency medical care, your hospital expenses will not be covered by the policy.

What To Do If Dissatisfied With Medical Plan?

In addition to being fully aware of your benefits and rights as member of a medical Short term insurance network, you should also learn what your options are in case of any dissatisfaction or grievance with the service or care provided. As a policy holder you are entitled to get copies of your medical test results and other information. You can also request to change your primary care doctor if you do not like the treatments or care received. All policies come with an appeals process, which can be used to appeal the insurer's decision in case you or your doctors do not like it.


Source: EzineArticles.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

How to Get a Cheap Medical Insurance Rate

Looking for a cheap medical insurance rate with a top company? Here's how to get it.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance costs have doubled in the last few years, and because of that a lot of people think they can't afford to be covered. Other people feel they don't need it because they're healthy and won't be stricken with a major medical problem. Wrong on both counts.

Fact is, we all need medical insurance and there are ways to get a cheap medical insurance rate.

Cheap Medical Insurance

Medicaid

If you're in a low income bracket, your state has a Medicaid program that will provide medical insurance for you and your family if your qualify. Medicaid medical insurance provides coverage for dental care, eye care, health care, and prescription drugs. For information on Medicaid medical insurance, call or visit your nearest Division of Family Services office for details.

If you don't qualify for Medicaid, your next step is to go shopping for an inexpensive health care plan. There are two types of insurance that offer the most benefits for the least amount of money - HMOs and PPOs:

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations)

HMOs charge a fixed monthly fee for which they provide medical services that include doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, and prescription drug coverage. Members must choose a primary car physician who oversees their health care, and they can only receive medical treatment from doctors and facilities that are part of the HMO's network.

PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations)

PPOs are similar to HMOs in that you receive medical services through a prescribed network of physicians and facilities. But unlike HMOs, members do not need to get permission from their primary care physician to see a specialist. PPOs cost about 5% more than HMOs.

Cheap Medical Insurance Rates

You can call local insurance companies or go to individual insurance sites to get medical insurance rate quotes, but the easiest way to get quotes is to go to an insurance comparison website.



Source : ezinearticles.com

Monday, January 19, 2009

Medical Insurance Helps you to Save Enormous Medical Expenses


There has to be a way to counter the rising medical costs. Medical insurance is one of them. And supposing that you do not have this insurance as yet, you need to give it a sober thought. This policy will cover the major costs incurred on major health problems that anyone can face.

It is known that in today's busy and stressful lifestyles, even a healthy person's health can go for atoll any time. With so much of unhealthy eating habits, you can never be sure of any disease growing within and when the symptoms may surface. Seasonal changes and change of physical environments also have a profound effect upon our health. This needs good consideration so that you be careful. One of the important measures to be taken is to go for a medical insurance so that you can at least cover the regular visits you might have to make to the doctor. Visits to the doctor also serve as good preventive measures. This is so because regular check ups make you confident of your health and you know where you are going. This can cover your major medical expenses, apart from hospitalisation, when needed.

Online availability of insurance quotes has made the job much easier, This is because not only is this quick, but also the processing is fast and you can avail to quotes from as many insurance companies as you like. This further helps to compare them so that you can strike upon the deal most suitable to your needs. While you take a medical Short term insurance for yourself, also do not ignore your family. In fact there are so may policies which are especially designed for you as well as your family, not to speak of the discounts you get thereof. Give a sober thought to this.



Source: EzineArticles.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

Cheap Medical Insurance Saves you From Exorbitant Medical Bills


Medical insurance is an important thing to consider in a life full of uncertainties. Disasters and accidents are the kind of things that strike any time and when they do, they can bring along a lot of financial losses. Apart from this, personal health issues are the other things you have to take care of. If you are overweight or have weak digestives, or have had some kind of Medical insurance history, you have to be all the more careful about your health, and one of the best ways to show yourself that you care is by taking a insurance. Insurance is needed to protect you from the exorbitant medical bills you can see popping up in no time, if ever you have to make trips to the hospitals, whenever you require medical services.

This is an easy thought, however, if you look at the medical insurance policies in the market, it can put you in a fix at times. On the face of it, there can be high premiums to pay which you may not be ready for. If you looking for cheap insurance as anyone should, you can consider online insurance quotes. Not only is the application process easier and quicker, but you will be surprised to fins a lot of good schemes and discounts. This is because the online insurance market is still new and is thus offers good schemes to give more advantage to the consumers. All said, it is important to know the ins and outs before taking out an insurance policy.

The first thing to be clear about is the areas of coverage wherein you can claim Short term insurance. This is very important because any kind of hassles is the last thing anyone would ever want when in case you need to make a medical insurance claim to cover your medical treatment. Clarify all the clauses before signing the dotted line, and also confirm the areas which you especially have in mind.



Source: EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Medical Insurance is a Health Protection Measure


Medical costs are rising all the time and so are the medical insurance costs. However, not to worry, since there are many ways that you can get hold of cheap insurance deals. You need not deprive yourself of this important financial protection policy, with the fear that it might be unnecessarily expensive. This is not a risk worth taking. After all. you never know when a medical treatment may be required, or when a Medical Insurance emergency may be on its way. An insurance coverage for such a situation, can be quite a blessing. Insurance of your health is important because your health care is your responsibility. There are some proven ways you can apply to keep your premium low and at the same time, be sure of what you are getting.

For this, you will certainly need to start with a bit of research of the market to compare medical insurance quotes from different insurers and to determine policies most suitable for you. There are a few considerations such as being clear about the terms. The first thing to be cleared is the coverage you will get and what are the conditions applicable. Be sure also to clarify the conditions where your insurance claim may get denied. Denial of insurance claim when you are in a medical emergency situation would always be the last thing anybody would want. An insurance claim denial in such a situation defeats the very purpose of insurance. Be not be misled by a low premium.

These days, the internet has taken over the market as the new hub of International health insurance transactions. The application process is much easier, quicker and convenient so that you can get as many quotes you would like from different insurers so that you can compare them. You can also negotiate for great deals. Being equipped with wider options thus, you can increase your chances of finding a medical insurance policy that is perfect for you and also for your family.




Source: EzineArticles.com