Eye on Travel Insurance
Betty James Travel Insurance Strategy update
For some years now, I’ve been recommending post-departure travel insurance policies, also known as zero-trip-cost policies or (as I coined it) “Betty James policies.” These policies eliminate the expensive trip-cancellation/interruption coverage but provide all of the other benefits of a full-featu
Emergency medical evacuation follow-up
In my March 2019 column, I made the following statement regarding a type of overseas emergency-medical-evacuation insurance policy offered by Divers Alert Network, or DAN (Durham, NC; 800/446-2671, www.diversalertnetwork.org), and their “membership” coverage:
Emergency medical evacuation
There are basically two types of overseas emergency-medical-evacuation policies. First is the type of coverage supplied by Divers Alert Network, or DAN (Durham, NC; 800/446-2671, www.diversalertnetwork.org).
Top Reasons Travel Insurance Claims are Delayed or Denied
I would like to share valuable information recently supplied by two travel insurance sources. First up is a table of advice from InsureMyTrip (800/487-4722, www.insuremytrip) to which I have added some information and tips of my own [in italics — Editor].
The advantage of post-departure policies: cost
Following is a testimonial that an ITN subscriber, Thomas Selgas of San Diego, California, wrote to his travel insurance broker, Dan Drennen, relating to an experience that he and his wife, Anne, had with their post-departure policy.
Advice from a longtime travel insurance columnist
In my column this month, I will first answer a subscriber’s specific questions regarding purchasing travel insurance, then I will provide some thoughts and recommendations on the general subject.
Medigap and subrogation
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those 65 years of age or older who qualify and for certain other people with disabilities. Medicare does not take care of all medical costs, however, so many seniors also purchase supplemental policies to cover expenses not fully covered by Medicare.
Primary- and secondary-payer policies
Travel insurance policies come in two flavors: those with primary payers and those with secondary payers. The “payer” is the insurance company. Secondary payers cover claims for overseas medical expenses only after any other insurance company has paid whatever it will pay.
Travel insurance competition
The competitive world of travel insurance just got more competitive. Two more travel insurance providers switched their medical benefits to primary-payer coverage.
Statistics: Will I have a medical emergency overseas?
Will I have a medical emergency overseas? The short answer is ‘Probably not.’
Unsatisfactory trip-itinerary changes
by Wayne Wirtanen (See this month's Boarding Pass and Barbara Porter's letter.)
Travel insurance premium refunds
“Am I likely to get a refund of a travel insurance premium if I cannot take the trip?” The short answer is “Probably not.”
The Betty James Travel Insurance Strategy
The Betty James Travel Insurance Strategy! What is it? Briefly, it’s a strategy to get economical, high-limits, overseas medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation coverage.
Alternatives to full-feature travel insurance policies
by Wayne Wirtanen (Second of two parts. Go to part one.)
When is it a good idea to buy a full-feature travel insurance package?
by Wayne Wirtanen (First of two parts. Go to part two.)
Eye on Travel Insurance » it can’t protect you everywhere
I found the following article with the above title, by Milan Korcok, editor of Travelinsurancefile.com, a Canadian website, of sufficient interest to get permission to reprint it in ITN, as follows.
Eye on Travel Insurance » Travel insurance update
by Wayne Wirtanen This month I’m going to discuss several aspects of today’s travel insurance scene. STA Travel and travelers over 35