Golf Travel Insurance - A Golf Holiday Must

Amateur and professional golfers should consider getting golf insurance if they play regularly. These days more people are taking liability seriously and your stray golf ball could cause you expensive out-of-pocket liabilities. An occasional slice could land into a condo unit with wall-to-wall glass and make you accountable to pay for the replacement of the glass at the very least. The problem could be compounded by injuries if someone is hit by your ball or cut by the broken glass.

If you travel a lot to play gold around the country or overseas, you should also get coverage. Golf travel insurance will cover your golf clubs if they get damaged or lost during the trip. If you travel frequently, you should also insure your other things such as jewelry, your laptop, and other valuables. You can get good rates if you get a number of policies from the same insurance company. Your golf travel policy may also cover you in case of medical emergencies while on a golf holiday.

The cost of golf insurance is considerably cheaper than the cost of what you could be liable for with just one bad hook that ends up in the parking lot. There are different types of insurance policies concerning the sport of golf. Some policies will cover damage to property, others will cover medical or hospital bills if you get injured on the fairway. A policy may also cover third-party injuries if your stray golf ball hits someone. If your ball hits someone in the head, he will likely need x-rays or an MRI.

Golf travel insurance can cover lost golf sets or damaged golf equipment during transit. It also covers injuries sustained by you or others while on a golf holiday. Just like a regular golf policy you have back home, it also covers public liability if your golf equipment causes damage to other people's property. Your travel policy can also pay for your loss in case your clubs or other golf gear get stolen. Other things it may cover are damage to your rented equipment such as a golf cart.

Golf insurance policies can also pay for expenses for personal injuries like falling off from a golf cart, getting struck by lightning on the golf course or getting hit by a golf club aside from getting hit by the ball. It may sound a little bit far off but these things do happen more often than you think. The policy may also apply to injuries sustained at a practice driving range aside from accidents on the fairway. Your insurance plan may also cover problems concerning your accommodations abroad.

For example, if you golf gear is damaged from a flood that occurs in your golf resort, or if your golf set is stolen from your hotel room, your golf travel insurance will cover the damage or loss. Having yourself covered during a golf holiday can take away the stress of dealing with unfortunate incidents such as these in a foreign country. To avoid fraud, you should buy your policy from a reputable company that provides coverage on a domestic and international level.

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Travel Insurance: Reminder to Declare All Health Problems

Travellers with health problems sometimes inadvertently, or even deliberately, neglect to declare pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing travel insurance. For those who are new to travel insurance it is a very important matter and worth taking the time to research and understand.

When you purchase travel insurance, which is often done online these days, you will be asked to declare any pre-existing medical problems. Obviously, serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer have to be declared. However, it may or may not be obvious that pre-existing medical problems also include many more common ailments and conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as any recent investigations, diagnosis or hospital stay.

Younger people heading off on gap-year adventures or round the world trips may not think that this section applies to them because they are young and in good health. However, no matter what age the traveller the rules are the same. Declaring pre-existing medical conditions applies to everyone, no matter how healthy they may be at the time they book travel and purchase insurance. A good basic backpacker policy should also include cover for medical expenses, air ambulance and medical repatriation - but all pre-existing conditions must be declared.

The bottom line is that if you fail to declare a medical condition and then experience a medical problem related to that condition while overseas your insurance provider is very likely to refuse to cover your claim - and this could become very costly indeed. Some people may decide not to declare a condition when they purchase insurance because they fear it will make the premium too expensive, but this is false economy.

In some cases there may be an increase in the premium to purchase travel insurance to cover a pre-existing medical condition, but it is better to be honest and pay a bit more than face having to pay for hospital treatment abroad if the worst should happen. Paying a bit more for your policy and having the peace of mind of knowing you are covered is crucial, and could save you a bundle if you experience a problem. Wouldn't it also be nice to know that with insurance you have a lifeline to call if disaster strikes, and a helpful voice to reassure and guide you.

It is vital that you declare all pre-existing conditions, and not just the ones that you think are more serious. Less serious medical conditions may not seem to be important but sometimes when they are present in combination with other conditions an insurer considers the risk greater and additional payment may be required.

If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and are travelling to another EU country you may falsely believe that travel insurance is not necessary, or that the embassy will pay your bills. While a valid EHIC should cover most of your hospital expenses, this can vary from country to country and the EHIC does not cover treatment for non-urgent or ongoing treatment, nor does it cover medical repatriation.

If you become seriously ill abroad, or go skiing and sustain an injury such as a broken leg, your return home may be delayed or you may require medical repatriation - perhaps with purchase of an additional seat on the plane and a medical escort. The EHIC does not cover expenses of this type, but a good travel insurance policy should. If your medical problem is found to be related to a previous illness or condition that you did not declare you run the risk of having claims on your insurance denied. Attempting to hide or ignore pre-existing medical conditions is simply not worth it.

Before you are tempted to purchase a very cheap travel insurance policy, or pick the first policy that comes up on a comparison site, or purchase any policy for that matter, always check that it provides adequate cover for medical expenses and includes air ambulance and medical repatriation.

Double-check the policy terms and conditions to ensure that all your planned activities are covered. If you are unsure or confused about any aspect of the insurance it is best to contact the company for clarification rather than leave things to chance.

Your travel destination should be taken into consideration, especially if you are travelling to an undeveloped country or remote area where medical facilities may be limited or inadequate. There is always the possibility that you may have to be transferred by air ambulance to a neighbouring country for treatment. This would obviously entail enormous expense and without travel insurance you or your family would be left alone to foot the bill.

If you are unsure whether you should declare any medical condition the best option is always to declare it - or ask for advice. Do not leave this important matter to chance or luck and risk ruining your trip. It could be a costly and unnecessary mistake.

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Travel Insurance and Health Issues

A diagnosis of a serious medical condition is likely to cause anxiety and confusion, especially in those used to travelling while enjoying good health.

The good news is that having a medical condition does not necessarily mean your travelling days are over. However, it is important to have some basic understanding of travel insurance and health issues. Many insurance policies automatically cover hundreds of medical conditions. The bad news is that for more serious conditions or combinations of conditions you may have to pay an extra fee. In some circumstances you may need to seek out a specialist insurer.

It is essential that you are totally honest and declare any pre-existing health condition(s) when purchasing travel insurance. Believing that you can hide your condition and no one will find out is a very bad idea. If you are lucky your trip will go smoothly without any problems, unplanned medical expenses, or need to contact the insurance claims or emergency assistance department; but what if you are not so lucky?

If an undeclared medical condition should flare up or cause you to become ill (or, worse yet, not survive) while overseas, someone has to pay the costs for hospital care and repatriation. Many travellers mistakenly believe that if they are injured or become ill abroad their consulate or embassy will take care of things for them and pay the hospital bills. If you do not have insurance you or your family have to pay the bills for your medical and hospital treatment. Medical bills are often astronomically high, depending on the condition and the country.

If you become ill while travelling it is very important to contact the emergency assistance number in your insurance policy as soon as possible. Failure to tell them immediately may result in denial of claims for unauthorised medical expenses. Who needs that!

EU citizens travelling within the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland should apply for and carry the free European Health Insurance Card. However, never use this as a substitute for travel insurance - you need both. Why?

To explain briefly: the European Health Insurance card provides cover under reciprocal health care agreements between participating countries. However, it does not extend to all costs - especially expensive medical repatriation. Any costs involved in transporting you (or your body or remains) home are the sole responsibility of you or your family, unless you have a good insurance policy that covers repatriation. So... always check your policy to make sure it is included!

It is very important to research all aspects of your holiday destination, and do it well before your trip - especially concerning health care and medical treatment. Government websites such as the British Foreign Office, Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland), U.S. Department of State and Smartraveller (Australia) provide important and updated travel advice and often include detailed information about medical care.

For example, if you travel to Australia and need medical treatment always check the terms and conditions for Medicare in your travel insurance policy. It is especially important that you contact the emergency assistance number provided by your travel insurance when treated as a hospital in-patient, especially if the treatment is not available free under Medicare. A little time spent checking the rules set out in your travel insurance policy could save a lot of worry - and potentially financially crippling medical bills.

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Travel Insurance - 5 Tips to Avoid Hefty Bills Abroad

Travellers are more aware nowadays than ever before of the importance of taking out travel insurance before a trip. Most travels are likely to go smoothly, but why take a chance and risk ruining that much-needed holiday.

A variety of travel mishaps and problems have dominated the news in the past few years and the importance of having travel insurance, as well as understanding your rights, has never been more in people's minds. Here are a few tips to consider before planning your next trip:

Tip No. 1 - Check that your travel insurance policy covers all your planned activities

Not all activities are covered under all policies, so this is important. If you are on a package holiday and choose to engage in activities outside those included you may find they are not covered unless you have taken out separate travel insurance. However, beware of travel insurance that seems very cheap or is offered as an incentive as the levels of cover may have been reduced - or the excess (the amount you pay towards a claim) increased. Your travel insurance policy should include a list of covered activities, such as elephant rides, scuba diving, bungee jumps, etc. Never assume that everything is automatically covered!

Tip No. 2 - Check that your policy includes adequate medical cover, liability and legal expenses

If you pick up a nasty stomach bug it could potentially put you in hospital. If you trip and break a leg, or sustain a serious injury it could result in very high medical bills for hospital treatment. If you cause injury to another person you could be liable and incur legal costs. If an injury results in medical repatriation to bring you home by air ambulance the need for additional seats on the plane, and/or medical escort, could set you back many thousands of pounds. Your consulate or the airline does not cover these costs. Someone has to pay and - without insurance - that someone is you, or your unsuspecting family or loved ones.

As well as adequate travel and medical insurance, always check that your policy includes cover for air ambulance and medical repatriation. This is vital.

Air ambulance fees to bring you back to the UK from your holiday destination could potentially cost thousands of pounds alone, and up to a staggering £50,000 from the USA! If it is necessary to fly you home on a stretcher with a medical escort the fees from even closer holiday destinations could be almost as financially devastating.

Tip No. 3 - Obtain a European Health Insurance Card

If you live in a EU country and are travelling within the European Union apply for the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and carry it with you. Depending on the country, it entitles you to free or reduced-cost emergency treatment on the same basis as a national of that country, in a state-run facility (not private). The EHIC should not be used instead of travel insurance, but will save you a lot of expense and inconvenience if you should sustain an injury or become sick while travelling. It is important to realise that the EHIC does not cover anything much other than emergency medical care. It does not cover repatriation to the UK or air ambulance costs. You will need travel insurance to cover an array of travel problems, such as non-urgent medical care, ongoing treatment, lost luggage, missed flights, scheduled airline failure, etc.

Tip No. 4 - Do Your Homework!

Research has shown that few people actually take the time to research the local laws and customs of their destination country before they set off. Awareness of potential pitfalls could save a lot of expense and grief. For example, do you know your destination country's rules for a single adult travelling with a child? Do you know which over-the-counter medicines you can and cannot legally take into the country? Do you know the basic rules of the road before driving in another country? The purchase of a good travel guidebook, or time spent reviewing travel advice provided online, such as on the Foreign Office website could help you avoid becoming the victim of a scam, or being arrested or fined for violating a local law that you were not aware of.

Tip No.5 - Make a note of Consulate/Embassy and Emergency Numbers

Before you travel, why not programme emergency numbers into your mobile phone and also keep a note of them with your travel documents. Having the number for the local emergency services programmed into your mobile phone could save time in the event of a robbery or accident - and even save lives. Consider registering with the Foreign Office 'Locate' service (or your own government's equivalent) to better enable the authorities to assist you if an emergency should arise. Their assistance in contacting friends and relatives would be a very welcome lifeline if needed and save you time, frustration, and expense.

It is time to be an educated traveller, as well as a savvy one. Why not pass these tips along to your family and friends. Remind them to take out travel insurance and do all they can to protect themselves and avoid unnecessary and hefty bills on their travels.

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Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance these days can protect you and your family whenever you are going out of town. It might be for a long hiking trip during the weekend or a holiday in another country for two weeks. Coverage is intended to get you medical attention in the event of an injury, illness, delay or other unforeseen expenses. You may find a short term/long term policy right online or by a local agent for coverage you can count on.

Why can it be a wise choice to purchase coverage for the next time you travel? Well, since there can be anything from delays, lost luggage, an accident or medical emergency it may pay to be prepared. Not only can this get you the medical attention you need, but won't incur unforeseen expenses while you're traveling.

What does cheap comprehensive travel insurance cover for those that are traveling? Well, it basically covers you in the event you are in need of medical care, experience delays, lose luggage and other unforeseen circumstances. It might be just to ensure you're trip goes well while hiking in the mountains or just for a relaxing time by the pool at a resort.

To get an affordable bargain shopping around and comparing rates is key. This way before you leave you know what it may cost you for the time you're traveling and for any destination you're going to. No matter if it's a short trip to hike in Europe or a relaxing time in the mountains.

When you really want to prepared especially when you are about to travel is to be prepared. This might mean to check on your destination country or the area you are going to to see if you may need additional coverage. Generally the best advice is going to come from the insurer so you get what's best for you.

Cheap comprehensive coverage can give you the protection you might need whenever you are traveling. It might be a long hike during the weekend or a long trip to Europe for the summer. Coverage gives the insured protection from incurring a financial loss due to a medical emergency, delay, cancellation or other unforeseen events. You can get a short term policy or long term policy from your local insurance agent or through a search online. This way you have something less to worry about when you're not at home.

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Safe Travel Tips and Travel Insurance

Some of the things you should consider are, your health, the health of close relatives, employment, weather related problems, just to mention a few. In short, think of the things that could go wrong that could cause you to cancel a vacation.

So, you decided to get Travel Insurance. That was the easy part. Since 9/11 the insurance industry has seen a boom in people wanting to get travel insurance. Because of this, there are a lot of choices; which insurer to pick and what type of coverage is best. From trip interruption... to policies that include multiple components, such as baggage coverage, medical, and collision damage insurance; all must be considered.

Don't assume just because you have travel insurance you will be covered. You need to do a lot of research. Just asking questions of your travel agent or insurance agent isn't enough. You have to read the policy completely - including the small print. You may think you were covered, only to find out that your claim was rejected. Your situation may not have met all the requirements to get a refund. If this does happen, you have the right to appeal the decision.

Time wise, when should you book your travel insurance? The sooner you decide, the better. If something happens after you booked your trip, but before you added travel insurance you are SOL! So, the only way to know if the policy you pick is right, is to research and ask questions.

There is a lot to consider in travel safety. Some is out of your hands, but there is a lot you can do to keep your vacation safe. The most important is being aware. This sounds easy, but don't be fooled; it's some thing you have to work at. Research where you are going so you know more of what to expect. If the cab driver tells you this is your destination you will know if it is the right place. Educate yourself to know approximate distances, so you are not taken advantage of by cab drivers.

When you are out and about, enjoy yourself, but stay aware of your surroundings. Look around; are you going into an area that doesn't look right? Is there som one watching you, is there a group of people who look out-of-place? Don't listen to your MP3 player. You need to hear what's happening around you. Let someone know where you will be going.

If something doesn't look or sound right, chances are it isn't. So you need to know what you should do to correct your situation. There are a lot of things you can get or do to make your travel safer; money belts, locks, etc. I will cover many of these in a future travel blog. Unless you learn to be aware of what's happening around you, your vacation could end badly.

With these few simple rules, you can do as much as possible to keep you and your traveling companions out of harms way. Simply put, always be aware of your surroundings; unless you can afford to hire a body-guard to do it for you! Watch for my next blog on safe travel.

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