Tips for Choosing the Right Travel Insurance
Access America provides a straight-forward guide for travelers: tips for selecting a travel insurance provider and a plan that will protect you and your travel investment
Richmond, Va., April 6, 2009 - Planning a trip? Have you...
- Found the best fare? Check!
- Researched just the right hotel? Check!
- Know what to wear? Check!
- Planned your itinerary? Check!
- What about travel insurance? ... Not so sure? Understandable.
Insurance may not be the most interesting part of your planning, but it's critical to any trip. In order to help travelers navigate the travel insurance market with as much confidence as any other part of their planning, Access America, a leading travel insurance provider, has developed tips to help consumers make their choice.
Following these simple tips will help travelers feel more informed and secure in their travel plans and ensure that the travel insurance they choose is the right one for them:
Before purchasing, ask a few questions about the company providing the travel insurance:
- Who is the underwriter for the insurance and what is their A.M. Best rating? Licensed insurers are rated by A.M. Best - and other independent rating agencies - on their financial strength and ongoing ability to pay claims. A simple search on the A.M. Best web site will tell you if the company is rated and how highly. You will need to register, but it's free.
- Does the insurance company have global capabilities? Look for companies that have company-owned offices around the world that are dedicated to travel insurance and assistance.
- Inquire about the company's network of service providers including hospitals and doctors. Ask if representatives from the company have personally visited the hospitals in their global network and how often these facilities are re-inspected.
- Find out what foreign language capabilities are provided by the insurance provider's in-house associates. You don't want a critical medical procedure delayed because you can't communicate with the physician. A reputable travel insurance and assistance provider will have associates on site who collectively speak as many as 40 different languages.
- If working with a travel agent, ask them if they are licensed by their state to sell travel insurance. You should also ask if the insurer is licensed to do business in your state.
- Are the insurer's covered reasons for trip cancellation readily provided on their web site or in product brochures? If you can't find a list of covered reasons, you won't know what types of cancellations may be covered.
- Read the insurer's policy before you purchase. Is it written in consumer-friendly language you can understand? Does the plan provide the coverage that you need? All travel insurers are required to offer you a ten-day free look at the policy. If after reading the document you determine that the coverage doesn't meet your needs, you can get a premium refund within ten-days of your purchase as long as you have not departed on your trip or filed a claim.
- Is the travel insurer a member of the United States Travel Insurance Association (USTIA)? This organization's members agree to a code of ethics related to licensing, marketing and customer service.
- Travel insurance is often sold by large travel suppliers like airlines, online travel agencies, and traditional travel agencies who have already done their due diligence on travel insurance companies. See whose insurance plans they offer to their customers.
To learn more information about Access America travel insurance, please call 1-800-284-8300 or visit: www.accessamerica.com.
About Access America
Access America is the consumer travel insurance brand of Mondial Assistance. Access America travel insurance and assistance products are purchased by millions of travelers each year, through leading travel suppliers including resorts, airlines, travel agents and more. Access America and Mondial Assistance are part of the Allianz (NYSE: AZ) family of companies. Visit www.accessamerica.com.