travel

How to Get Travel Insurance Claims Settled

travelTravel Insurance Claims

Most people don’t really read their travel insurance policy until they need to make a claim on it, and then it can often present one or two nasty surprises.

People get very upset, naturally, if their claim is rejected by the insurance company, whatever the reason.

It can be a real help to understand the reasons why insurance companies tend to reject claims, as people can then be prepared in advance to make sure that if their claim is legitimate they have solid ground on which to pursue it and have it settled.

Below is a list of the most common reasons why claims are rejected, followed by a number of articles looking at some of the reasons in more detail :

Some common reasons for travel claims being rejected:

  1. Not Filling in a Claims Form Properly: Failing to provide all the required information or providing inaccurate details can lead to claims being rejected. It’s essential to fill out the claim forms accurately and include all necessary supporting documentation.
  2. Policy Exclusions: Most travel insurance policies have specific exclusions and limitations. Claims for events or circumstances that fall under these exclusions may be rejected. Common exclusions include pre-existing medical conditions, certain high-risk activities, and events caused by illegal or reckless behaviour.
  3. Late Filing or Notification of a Claim : Insurance companies typically have strict deadlines for filing claims. Failing to submit a claim within the specified timeframe may result in rejection. It’s crucial to be aware of these deadlines and submit a claim as quickly as possible .
  4. Lack of Proper Documentation: Claims often require supporting documentation, such as medical reports, police reports, or receipts. Failure to provide the necessary documents or evidence to substantiate the claim can lead to the claim being rejected.
  5. Unapproved Expenses: Some policies may have restrictions on the types of expenses that can be claimed. If the incurred expenses are not covered under the policy, the claim may be rejected. It’s important to review the policy terms and conditions to understand what is covered.
  6. Failure to Notify the Insurance Company: In certain situations, policyholders are required to inform the insurance company promptly, usually within specified time limits, such as in the case of medical emergencies or trip cancellations. Failure to notify the insurer within the specified time frame may result in the claim being rejected.
  7. Policy Lapses or Non-Payment of Premiums: If the policy has lapsed due to non-payment of premiums, the coverage may no longer be in effect, leading to the claim being rejected. It’s important to maintain the policy in good standing by paying premiums on time.
  8. Misrepresentation: Providing false information during the application process or when filing a claim can result in the denial of the claim. It’s essential to be honest and transparent when dealing with the insurance provider. False information can mean either providing information that isn’t true, or not telling them something that is relevant to the policy, i.e. by omission

Dangers of nosebleeds when flying …..

travel

An Air Transat flight from Toronto to the Dominican Republic faced a unique situation when the pilot experienced an “uncontrollable nosebleed” three hours into the flight.

An off-duty captain, who happened to be on board for vacation with his family, stepped in to take control of the Airbus A330. The airline assured that its pilots are well-trained to handle such situations independently.

The plane landed safely, and all 299 passengers were unharmed. The incident highlights the expertise of the airline’s pilots and the fortunate presence of a qualified backup on the flight.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported the incident, emphasizing the smooth continuation of the journey without further issues.

Full Article Here

What causes nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, can occur for various reasons. Some common causes include:

  1. Dry Air: Dry or low-humidity environments can dry out the nasal membranes, leading to irritation and potential bleeding.
  2. Nasal Trauma: Injury or trauma to the nose, such as a blow to the face, can cause blood vessels in the nose to rupture and result in a nosebleed.
  3. Nasal Irritation: Exposure to irritants like smoke, chemicals, or strong odors can irritate the nasal passages and trigger nosebleeds.
  4. Nasal Infections: Infections, particularly those affecting the nasal lining, can contribute to nosebleeds.
  5. Nasal Allergies: Allergic reactions, especially those causing persistent nasal congestion and itching, may lead to nosebleeds.
  6. Nasal Decongestant Spray Overuse: Frequent or prolonged use of nasal decongestant sprays can cause the nasal tissues to become dry and more prone to bleeding.
  7. Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as blood clotting disorders, liver disease, or conditions affecting blood vessels, can make individuals more susceptible to nosebleeds.
  8. Medications: Some medications, like blood thinners, may increase the risk of bleeding, including nosebleeds.
  9. Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations, such as those occurring during pregnancy or menopause, can contribute to nasal dryness and increased susceptibility to nosebleeds.
  10. Foreign Bodies: Inserting objects into the nose can cause trauma and lead to nosebleeds.

In most cases, nosebleeds are not severe and can be managed at home by tilting the head forward, pinching the nostrils together, and applying cold compresses. However, persistent or recurrent nosebleeds may warrant medical attention, especially if they are associated with an underlying health condition.

What is Medical Travel Insurance?

travelMedical Travel Insurance

Medical travel insurance is a type of insurance coverage designed to provide financial protection for individuals who are traveling abroad and may need medical care during their trip.

It is also sometimes referred to as travel health insurance or international health insurance.

This type of insurance is particularly important because standard health insurance plans may not cover medical expenses incurred outside of your home country.

Medical travel insurance typically offers coverage for a range of medical expenses, including emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, surgery, and prescription medications. It may also cover other travel-related issues such as trip cancellations, lost luggage, or emergency evacuation.

Key features of medical travel insurance may include:

  1. Emergency Medical Coverage: Covers the cost of medical treatment for unexpected illnesses or injuries during your trip.
  2. Medical Evacuation: Covers the cost of transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility in case of a medical emergency that requires specialized treatment.
  3. Repatriation: Covers the cost of returning your remains to your home country in the unfortunate event of your death during the trip.
  4. Trip Cancellation or Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable trip expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered reasons, such as a medical emergency.
  5. Lost or Delayed Baggage Coverage: Provides reimbursement for the value of lost, stolen, or delayed baggage.
  6. 24/7 Assistance Services: Many travel insurance plans offer 24/7 assistance services, including a helpline to connect you with medical professionals or assistance in finding local healthcare providers.

It’s crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions of a medical travel insurance policy to understand the coverage limits, exclusions, and any pre-existing conditions that may affect the policy.

Travel insurance needs can vary depending on the destination, the length of the trip, and individual health considerations. Travelers are advised to purchase medical travel insurance before embarking on international trips to ensure they are adequately protected in case of unforeseen medical emergencies.

Difference Between Travel Medical Insurance and Regular Health Insurance

The main difference between travel medical insurance and regular health insurance is the duration of coverage and the type of protection provided.

Travel medical insurance is designed to cover emergency medical expenses during a trip, such as ambulance services, doctor bills, and hospital charges.

It can be primary or secondary coverage, depending on the plan. In contrast, regular health insurance, whether domestic or international, provides long-term coverage for most medical bills, including non-emergency treatment, prescription medication, and chronic conditions.

It does not typically cover trip disruptions. Travel insurance, on the other hand, is intended to cover short-term trips and may include benefits such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, and travel delay

Cost of Medical Travel Insurance

The cost of travel medical insurance is typically lower than that of regular health insurance. Travel insurance policies can cost between $35 and $200, depending on various factors such as age, trip duration, location, and the level of coverage selected. On average, travel insurance is about 5% to 6% of your total trip cost.

In contrast, regular health insurance, whether domestic or international, involves long-term coverage for medical expenses and is usually more expensive than travel medical insurance.

The cost of regular health insurance can vary significantly depending on factors such as the level of coverage, the individual’s age, and pre-existing conditions.

To choose the right travel medical insurance plan, consider the following steps:

  1. Examine your current health care plan: If you have private health insurance in your home country, research whether it covers you internationally.
  2. Review and compare travel medical plans: This will help you get an idea of what different companies offer, pricing, and the benefits included. Look for plans that provide the freedom to seek treatment with a hospital or doctor of your choice.
  3. Consider your specific needs: Determine what benefits are important to you, such as coverage for emergency medical treatment, medical evacuations, emergency dental procedures, and any pre-existing conditions.
  4. Check for coverage limits and exclusions: Understand the limits of coverage for medical expenses, as well as any exclusions or limitations for pre-existing conditions, adventure activities, or hazardous sports.
  5. Seek advice from insurance professionals: If you’re unsure about which plan is best for you, consider consulting with insurance agents or brokers who can provide guidance based on your individual circumstances.

What is Emergency Travel Insurance

travelEmergency Travel Insurance

Emergency travel insurance, also known as travel medical insurance, provides coverage for emergency medical expenses, including medical evacuations, while traveling internationally.

Here are some of the benefits of emergency travel insurance:

  • Peace of mind: Knowing that you have insurance coverage can give you peace of mind when you are traveling.
  • Financial protection: Emergency travel insurance can help you avoid paying out-of-pocket for expensive medical care or other emergencies.
  • Repatriation: If you become seriously ill or injured while traveling, emergency travel insurance can help pay for your repatriation back to your home country.
  • Emergency assistance: Many emergency travel insurance plans also provide 24/7 emergency assistance, which can help you find a doctor, translate languages, and get help with other emergencies.

Here are some of the things that emergency travel insurance typically covers:

  • Medical expenses: This includes the cost of doctor visits, hospital stays, medication, and other medical care.
  • Evacuation: If you need to be evacuated from a remote or dangerous location, emergency travel insurance can help pay for the cost of transportation.
  • Transportation: If your trip is interrupted due to a covered reason, emergency travel insurance can help pay for the cost of transportation to your destination or back home.
  • Other expenses: This may include the cost of lost or damaged luggage, trip cancellation or interruption, and legal assistance.

How much does emergency travel insurance cost?

The cost of emergency travel insurance will vary depending on the length of your trip, your destination, and the level of coverage you choose. However, it is typically relatively affordable, and it can be a valuable investment in your peace of mind and financial protection.

How to purchase emergency travel insurance

Emergency travel insurance can be purchased online, through a travel agent, or from an insurance company. When choosing a plan, be sure to compare the coverage and benefits of different plans to find one that meets your needs.

Here are some tips for purchasing emergency travel insurance:

  • Read the fine print: Before purchasing a plan, be sure to read the fine print to understand the terms and conditions of the coverage.
  • Consider your destination: If you are traveling to a country with a high risk of medical emergencies, you may want to purchase a plan with higher coverage limits.
  • Be honest about your health: When applying for emergency travel insurance, be sure to be honest about your health. This will help to ensure that you are covered in the event of a medical emergency.

Emergency travel insurance is a valuable tool that can help you protect yourself from the unexpected when you are traveling. By purchasing emergency travel insurance, you can give yourself peace of mind and financial protection knowing that you are covered in the event of a medical emergency or other travel interruption.

Assess the costs of treating unexpected illnesses or injuries that occur during a trip, such as ambulance services, hospital and doctor bills, and emergency dental services.

It is important to note that travel medical insurance does not cover routine expenses and is meant to protect individuals in case of an emergency.

This coverage is typically included in comprehensive travel insurance plans, but it can also be purchased on its own. It is recommended for travellers visiting countries where their primary health insurance does not apply,

 

What is the best travel kettle?

Best travel kettle.

A travel kettle is an indispensable part of holidays and road trips for many people. The need to be able to independently make a hot drink of tea or coffee is for many people a real freedom.

This applies not only to people who are doing some type of road trip, but people can go on camping holidays, and caravan holidays, as well as for many people who are using motels or quite cheap accommodation for their stay.

Many motels and other places will have a coffee maker, but not necessarily a kettle as well meaning that if the person wants a cup of tea they are not able to make it.

A travel kettle can also be really useful if you are travelling in an area where the water is of dubious quality, and being able to boil it makes it drinkable – this can be a real lifesaver, if not literally, then metaphorically.

The need for a travel kettle can be best served by a bit of planning and research. Many stores, both physical and online, sell travel kettles and so knowing what to look for is important.

Electric travel kettles

Travel kettles are nearly always electric, as opposed to kettles that can be used over a stove, which are normally full sized.

Weight and capacity

How much a kettle weighs and its size can be a major factor, especially if it is to be packed in a suitcase. Most travels tend to be around a third of the size of a normal kettle, and their capacity varies from about half a litre up to one litre.

Speed of boiling

The other really important thing is how fast it can boil. Manufacturers will make certain claims about the wattage and voltage of their kettle, often implying that this makes a difference as to how fast it can boil.

It is worth checking out any of these claims by reading reviews where possible, as this can give you practical feedback actually how fast and easy it is to use.

12v Travel Kettle – Car Travel Kettle

People looking for a 12v travel kettle do so because they want one that can be used in their car, 4×4, RV or motorhome. There are a number of these for sale and the above considerations should apply, both in terms of capacity and usage.

They are normally sold online as well as in-store by companies such as Asda and Argos.
Reviews can be found on Amazon as well as car and auto magazines such as Auto Express

Wilkinsons Travel Kettle

Often known as Wilco kettles, they have a very popular travel kettle, with a capacity of 400 ml, a height of 18 cm, a width of 9.5 cm and a depth of 15.5 cm.

Kettles are made from a combination of plastic and metal and generally have good reviews.
It is important with some kettles that are made purely from plastic to check the quality of the material as some plastic can give a very odd taste to the water when it is being boiled which affects the quality of the drink there after.

Travel Kettle b&m,
Travel Kettle Tesco
Travel Kettle Argos
Travel Kettle Asda

These are the main stores that specialize in selling travel kettles, and all can be relied upon to offer good value for money.
Some of the most popular kettles include :

Cookworks travel kettle,
DRBIT Foldable travel kettle,
Russell Hobbs 23840 travel kettle,
Quest 35690 travel kettle,
Quest 35440 travel kettle,