Insured by Access America

In the many years my husband, Ted, and I have traveled around the world on ship, on tours and independently, we have booked travel insurance about two-thirds of the time. We have seldom needed to use it and always questioned the expense of bothering with it.

One outstanding event that precluded travel for which we could make no claim on a typical travel insurance policy was a cruise we had booked with the former line Renaissance Cruises, leaving a European port on 9/12/01 — yes, the day after the tragic events in New York, etc., that forced eventual closure of the entire line. Our having booked with our Visa card saved us that time, as Visa refunded every cent we had paid in advance for that cruise.

However, we have booked off and on (more frequently since 9/11) with the insurance company Access America (800/284-8300) and have had the bad luck to have to call on the cancellation clause three times and the good luck to have chosen Access America for coverage.

Once, in India, I fell on marble steps, my knee swelled to dramatic proportions and we had to cancel a hiking extension in Nepal. We filled out the papers with relative ease upon our return and had a check in hand in a few weeks for the full amount.

In April ’05, with two trips booked to Europe, Ted learned he needed medical treatment that would take several months, requiring him to be at home during the duration of both trips. Within three weeks of filing two claims, we received a check for almost $7,000 and were told by phone that our deposit for $1,000 on the second trip was in the mail.

We want to let ITN readers know that Access America is a responsible company. They are polite, efficient and friendly and they follow through with their commitment. Insurance is something no one wants to need, but when you do it’s important to be insured with an ethical and efficient company.

MARILYN STENVALL
Palm Desert, CA