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Canadian Travel Health Insurance Advice For USA Citizens

May 15, 2010 by  
Filed under Travel Insurance

Regarding Canadian travel health insurance coverage, there are a few important factors to consider. This article will be pertinent to USA citizens traveling to Canada. The first thing you should do is send a letter to the US State Department advising them that you are traveling to Canada and provide the dates.

This is important because you can be reached if a family emergency occurs while you are out of the country. Furthermore, the Department can reach you should a sudden crisis occur in Canada while you are traveling. All information is confidential in accordance with the conditions of the Privacy Act.

Regarding health insurance, speak to your health insurance carrier to establish your policy’s efficacy while you are in Canada. Will it provide cover for any potential emergency expenses? Most health plans do not carry cover for medical expenses in a foreign country unless the policy holder has bought extra cover.

Should your policy not include cover while you are visiting Canada, your travel agent can offer a temporary policy. These policies are not very expensive and are definitely worthwhile. They include cover for all health expenses, plus emergency services and medical evacuations. You will be ill advised to travel without some type of medical insurance cover. There are far too many reports about travelers who have run into terrible problems while seeking medical help in a foreign country.

The majority of Canadian hospitals and doctors will require you to pay for services in advance. Even though a medical evacuation is unlikely, bear in mind that the cost of this is well over $50,000. So check this out with your health and travel insurance Ontario company.

Also establish with your insurer whether payment will be made direct to the Canadian health care provider, or if you will later be refunded. Ask about coverage for psychiatric treatment, and what cover applies with regards to your remains if you die in Canada.

If you are taking prescription medication to Canada, the medication should be stored in its original labeled container. Have a copy of the doctor’s prescription on hand, as well as the doctor’s contact details. Diabetics who are bringing syringes into Canada should be in possession of a doctor’s certificate stating that the syringes are for medical use. You must declare the syringes to the custom officials when you arrive in Canada.

The same medication rules apply to travelers who are HIV positive and are taking antiretroviral drugs. It would be a good idea to ask your doctor for an extra script in case your drugs are stolen or if you lose them. On the subject of HIV, USA citizens are not required to undergo AIDS tests before entering Canada.

Once you have established the requirements of Canadian travel health insurance, consider all other aspects relevant to your health. For example, if you wear spectacles, take a spare pair. If you are allergic to any foods and medicines, or if you have a chronic medical problem, it would be advisable to wear a medical alert bracelet. Also carry a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and what treatment is suggested if you fall ill.

Dan Pucher Insurance is an independent Broker offering personal and corporate solutions. When looking for Visitors to Canada insurance and Travel Insurance Ontario.

Tips For Getting Cheap International Airline Tickets

April 12, 2010 by  
Filed under Flights

Traveling abroad is so popular because it is a great way to experience new cultures, diverse environments, amazing attractions and activities, and much more. Many people tend to avoid traveling abroad because they think the price of airline tickets is too expensive. Fortunately, international flight tickets do not have to be too expensive to purchase when you know how to get a great deal. There are now a number of ways people can find cheap international airline tickets:

The following are a number of tips to getting cheap international airline tickets:

1. With so many travel agencies and online travel sites competing for business, it is essential that you comparison shop to find the cheapest price on international flight tickets. The best source to locate affordable international flights is the internet. It is helpful to compare prices from different travel sites. There are a number of travel and cheap airline ticket websites that specialize in selling inexpensive airline tickets. In most cases, you can usually get a better price than a traditional travel agency or buying directly from the airline. There are online discount airline sites that offer great deals on international flights. It is recommended that you look for discount airlines that fly in and out of your travel destination so you do not have to transfer to another airline.

2. There are a number of factors that affect the price of an international airline ticket. For instant, the length of the flight, whether you have to make a stop over and switch planes, and if you purchase a first class ticket, can increase the price you pay for the ticket. Purchasing a direct and shorter flight will lower the price of the ticket. Search airline tickets thoroughly for the best prices possible.

3. The time of the year that you purchase your international flight ticket can affect the price you pay. For instance, traveling during the off season will result in a lower price. Traveling during the off season will allow you take advantage of lower prices for cheap airline tickets. As well, check for special flight offers and discount deals. Also, the farther away from the scheduled departure date you book your ticket, the less you will pay for your ticket. Travel experts recommend that people book no later than 21 days before they plan to fly. Most experts recommend booking tickets 3 months prior to the scheduled departure.

4. There are traditional methods of getting great deals on international flights. Check local magazines, fliers, travel commercials on television, and newspapers for special travel promotions and sales. As well, you can also cash in your airline frequent fliers miles to purchase a ticket which will result in substantial savings on tickets. When it comes to redeeming air miles, it is important to be aware that most airlines set aside a specific number of seats for air miles rewards so you should book as early as possible.

Just because you are on a strict budget, it does not mean you cannot have a fun vacation in another country. To get a great deal on international airline tickets, you just have to know where to find the cheapest tickets, when you should book, and the type of ticket you should purchase. In no time, you will be booking an international flight to an exciting country where you will make long lasting memories.

Search, compare prices and book cheap travel deals and airline tickets with one of our many airline partners. Visit one of our worldwide destinations in few clicks away.

Why And How To Choose International Travel Medical Insurance

February 11, 2010 by  
Filed under Travel Insurance

If you are planning your trip to Canada or any other overseas location, then you are probably more occupied with planning your activities and hotels than thinking about your travel insurance. Chances are that you will not need to have international travel medical insurance, but if something does go wrong the small investment in your health can save you a lot of problems.

So you know that you need to find some travel insurance, but choosing a policy can be confusing. There are different companies and options and they each have differing inclusions, exclusions, premiums and gap fees. Before selecting a policy, you should compare what each is offering and make an educated decision based upon your health needs and those of the other people that will be covered with the plan.

When you have worked out the current level of coverage that you have, you will have to start looking at the different travel insurance options that are out there and start comparing what they have to offer. There are various types of travel insurance and most of them base the premiums either on the length of the trip or a fraction of the total price of the trip.

There are a few basic types of travel insurance that you can find: short term coverage for a single trip, open ended or longer term coverage and coverage for multiple trips. If you are planning to live overseas there are expat policies that can cover you indefinitely.

There can be a great deal of difference between different policies. You may be able to save money on some items that are not necessary for you and are extremely unlikely to be necessary when you are overseas. The level of coverage that you need might also depend on the length of time that you will be taking out the policy for.

Some of the inclusions that are usually included with different policies are: emergency medical care, emergency dental care, medical evacuation (covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest hospital equipped to handle your medical emergency), trip cancellation or delay, lost or delayed baggage up to a set amount. It is worth weighing up the likelihood of different conditions and events and you may be able to make realistic cutbacks on inclusions to save some money.

There do tend to be some exclusions with medical travel insurance that you may need to be aware of. The more common ones are – prior medical conditions, pregnancy, adventure sports such as diving and mountain climbing, self caused injury or mental illness.

Before you settle on the international travel medical insurance coverage that you are going to take out, there are a couple of factors which will affect which insurance policy is the right one for you. You need to consider – the length of your trip, your destination, participation in high-risk sports, your general health. Always check up on the fine details and be clear about what you have covered and how to go about making a claim. Travel insurance can make all the difference between a stress free holiday and a disastrous one.

Dan Pucher Insurance is an independent Travel Health Insurance Broker offering personal and corporate solutions. When looking for Visitors to Canada Insurance and information on Canada Travel Insurance please give us a call.

What If You Forget to Buy Travel Insurance?

March 31, 2009 by  
Filed under Travel Insurance

For many people, acquiring travel insurance is not on their list of things-to-do when making their travel preparations. What most travelers do not realize is that there are many events that can happen on a vacation that can result in serious financial loss.

Before traveling abroad, it is important to consider the reasons why you should not forget to buy travel insurance:

Personal Injury: When planning to travel in another country, you should think about what would happen if you were in accident and needed medical treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury, medical costs could run from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Buying travel insurance before your trip will ensure that if you need medical treatment, your costs will be covered. Personal accident coverage can also cover you in the event of death or if you are permanently disabled. Some policies will pay your legal costs if you decide to sue a third party for damages as a result of personal injury or death.

Unexpected Cancellation: After booking and paying for a trip, many people do not think about the money they will lose if they had to suddenly cancel. This could be due to an illness or death in your family, jury service, fire, or flood or storm damage to your home or business. The financial loss could be enormous. Travel insurance will cover your costs if you have to cancel your trip.

Missed Departure: On the way to the airport, most people do not consider how much money they would lose if they missed their flight. This could be the result of weather conditions, vehicle breaking down, etc. With travel insurance, you will be covered in the event of a missed flight. You may also receive a lump sum if there is a valid reason why your departure was delayed or you missed your flight.

Lost or Delayed Luggage: When traveling by plane, many people have had their luggage either delayed or lost. Replacing clothes and incidentals can be quite costly. Travel Insurance will cover lost luggage items. If delayed, the policy will cover the purchase of necessities that you require while waiting for your luggage to arrive.

Cause Injury to another Person: If you have rented a car while traveling abroad and crash into another car, and are found at fault, you may be responsible for paying for another person’s medical costs. Personal liability insurance will cover you for another person’s loss. Some policies will pay for the cost of an attorney if you are sued.

Lost Belongings and Theft: When you are traveling abroad, you should consider what you would do if you lost your belongings or had them stolen. Losing you cash, credit cards, and other forms of payment could leave you in a frightening situation. Traveler’s insurance will cover you if you lost or had your means of payment stolen. If you take expensive items such as jewelry and cameras on your trip, you run the risk of having the items stolen. Travelers insurance will cover you in the event of a theft of an item. Most policies impose a limit of coverage on any one item. You should consider adding ‘all risks’ coverage to your valuables. As well, make sure that you become familiar with any stipulations in your travel policy regarding the loss of an item. If you left a camera at a public place such as a park, you may not be covered

Traveling abroad can be an exciting and fun adventure. When making your traveling preparations, you want to make sure that your plans will result in a relaxing and enjoyable trip. Purchasing travelers insurance will give you peace of mind knowing that you are protected.

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