Dream Vacation Turns Into a Nightmare

Britt Leis and Leah Koehn’s trip of a lifetime came to a frightening halt when they were attacked on a beach in Ecuador. Leis, 35, was stabbed 18 times, and Koehn, 24, was assaulted but able to seek help.

Probably one of the last things we think of when planning a trip is travel medical insurance. When traveling out of country, it should be the first. A recent traveler’s survey indicated that over 22% of Americans traveling internationally reported they have been the victim of some type of crime during their travels. According to a report on NBC, 1 in 4 Americans have reported assaults while traveling abroad.

U.S. based health insurance offers limited coverage outside the states and no coverage for medical evacuation which can easily run in the tens of thousands. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the U.S. and regular health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. When interviewed, the FBI agent that presided of Mr. Leis' case urged travelers to purchase one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travel abroad. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.

After 3 surgeries in Ecuador, Leis was stable enough to be evacuated by medical ambulance stateside at a reported cost of $55,000.

Insurance Services of America offers a variety of travel medical insurance plans to fit your budget, and coverage includes hospitalization, emergency evacuation, repatriation, and much more. Give us a call so we can show you how affordable peace of mind can be.

Explore your world, we’ve got you covered.

Save Money This Holiday Travel Season

With today’s tough economy your Holiday travel plans might be changing. Although you’ve probably found that ticket prices for Thanksgiving or Christmas travel are significantly higher than last year, it’s not too late to find a reasonable fare. Over the next few weeks, I will be providing tips on how to save a little cash during these times, without putting a damper on your holiday cheer.

1. Avoid flying on the busiest days:
Holiday ticket prices are 25 percent higher than they were in 2007, with the average price for a Wednesday-to-Sunday itinerary a whopping $460 round-trip.Merely delaying your return until Monday could save you $80 on average, and you’d save an additional $63 by waiting to fly home until Tuesday. For Christmas travel: Avoid departing on Saturday, Dec. 20, or returning on Sunday, Dec. 28, and you could save $25-$40 per ticket.

2. Drive to (or from) an alternate airport:
For example: There are 10 percent fewer seats this November on flights from Gainesville, Fla., compared with last November. And, not surprisingly, the fare on a sample peak trip to Phoenix for Thanksgiving weekend is a sky-high $572 round-trip. An alternate approach would be to drive to a nearby airport. The fare from Jacksonville to Phoenix is just $466, and from Orlando it’s only $351. Just be sure to factor in the cost of gas, tolls and parking so you’re not squandering all of your savings on the road.

3. Watch carefully for price drops:
Fares during the holidays tend to be more unpredictable than at other times of the year, with price reductions of $15 or more happening 50 percent more often. So it’s a good idea to watch the fares daily and buy your tickets during one of these decreases, when it’s possible to save $100 or more per person.
Since airlines typically release only a few seats at the lowest prices at a time, book quickly if you see that a fare drop is taking place. That will help ensure that you’re not shut out by other travelers who are also trying to snatch up that low fare before the price goes up again.

4. Don’t wait too long before booking:

The trick with booking holiday travel is to wait long enough that you can enjoy the treat of price drops — but not so long that seats at the lowest fares are sold out. Bottom line: If you haven’t bought your Thanksgiving ticket yet, now’s the time to start watching for price drops; book your trip as soon as you feel comfortable with the fare, even if it’s higher than last year.

5. Plan for the unexpected:
Getting sick or injured while away from home can be financially devastating. Travel Medical Insurance is a small price to pay when you consider the costs of a medical evacuation. Trip insurance can reimburse you if your bags are lost, or if your flight gets delayed or cancelled. Cancelled flights and congested Holiday travel could leave you stranded. Let the experts at Insurance Services of America help you safeguard your Holiday Travel plans at a price that won’t leave you saying “Bah Humbug.”

INSURANCE SERVICES OF AMERICA

800.647.4589

For 38 years, SERVICE is our middle name.