Travelling while pregnant can be a bit of a gamble. “When should be your cut off date? What kinds of travel are worse than others for heavily pregnant mothers? Should you risk it if the destination isn’t prepared for or can’t or won’t offer maternity care?” The last worry you would want on top of this is “how much will it cost?” We take a look at the world of travel and pregnancy and see how having travel insurance on holiday is very important when pregnant.

When can and should you travel?

Experts differ as to when you should stop all travel if you are pregnant. To an extent it depends on the type of transport you are taking. Driving isn’t usually a problem, nor is walking unless you are trekking along very strenuous trails (though doing almost anything close to the due date may induce labour). Travelling by ship or train are, similarly, not huge problems. The main type of travel that is unsafe while pregnant is flying. The pressurised environment is arguably bad for the baby the closer to term a woman gets, and may cause complications and possible premature births.

Most airlines, for example British Airways, don’t allow pregnant women past 28 weeks to travel. Others allow you to fly after that with a doctor’s certificate up to 36 weeks and not at all after that, but that can be pushing the limit.

Will my usual travel insurance cover me?

Many companies offer travel insurance up until 28 weeks, depending on the company and the individual case. Most standard travel insurance policies don’t cover pregnancy as a medical condition, and therefore it’s best to check with your holiday insurance provider before you go. Many standard and cheap travel insurance companies will offer top-up pregnancy travel insurance policies, and it’s best to invest in one of those even just for the peace of mind it will bring. It’s also best to check the facilities of the country you are travelling to and what documentation you might need – better to be prepared than be caught short while abroad where there’s little you can do.

Do I only need travel insurance if going by plane?

No. When pregnant you will want to have the extra travel insurance in place even if you are going by train, ship, car or any other transport. This is because the main point of travel insurance whilst you are pregnant is to literally ensure that you can be pregnant and give birth in another country if necessary. Most countries have no national health provision, and health care is paid for on insurance or billed to your account when your procedure is over. Some go as far as not treating you if you are unable to pay for the treatment there and then. The last thing that you want when going into labour is to have someone questioning your financial situation. To make sure that you are covered for any foreign medical expenses, always check that you have travel insurance before booking your holiday.

Obtaining travel insurance with medical coverage while traveling both nationally and internationally is important for several reasons. Because most health insurance policies will not cover you once you have left your country of origin, you will be responsible for any medical expenses incurred during the trip. This includes:

Transportation or evacuation for medical purposes
Hospital stays
Medical checkups, surgery or medications given while traveling

The cost of these medical services and other expenses can be very high and you are usually expected to pay for them when you receive treatment or shortly afterwards.

Protecting your health during your trip also means getting to and from your destination without incident. Many travel insurance policies include health and medical insurance for the time you’re flying as well.

Benefits of Travel Insurance

Even if you don’t have any serious or minor health issues, accidents can happen at any time. By purchasing travel insurance, you are helping yourself get the medical attention needed to save your life.
Without medical insurance, you could be denied services or you may have to pay for these expenses out-of-pocket, which can be very costly. If traveling with family, you should definitely consider purchasing travel insurance.

Other benefits of travel insurance include:

Medical evacuation or transportation to local hospitals
Medical services
Medications
Ability to travel home to visit regular physicians at no additional cost
Death/dismemberment insurance (transportation of body upon death to country of origin)

Protecting your health and the health of each member of your family is just as important as paying for other expenses when taking a trip.

Not Just for Vacations

Travel insurance should be purchased for both vacation and business travel. If you travel often for business, protecting the welfare of your family by remaining healthy during your trips is important. If you were to become ill or need emergency surgery, you will be covered under your insurance policy.

For those who travel often, annual or multi trip travel insurance is available. This policy can be used throughout the year and is less expensive than purchasing single trip insurance each time you travel.

When it comes to your health, taking proper precautions by researching vacation destinations in advance, visiting countries that are safe and purchasing travel insurance can help you have a safe, enjoyable vacation. When looking for a policy, make sure you find one that suits your needs.

There are several different types of travel insurance that you can choose when you are looking to protect your travel investment. Two of the most well known travel insurance companies are Access America (AA) and Travelsafe Travel Insurance (TTI). If you are planning on traveling in the United States or abroad, it is a good idea to get insurance to cover the cost of your trip in case something goes wrong.

Both Access America and Travelsafe Travel Insurance offer travel insurance for someone who is journeying in a variety of different methods – by air, sea or train. Access America is more geared towards domestic travel, although it is also used by those who are going out of the country. Many of the people who avail of Access America’s plans do so because they are going on a cruise.

Cruising Along with Access America and Travelsafe Travel

Cruises are the number one reason why people get travel insurance. You see, there is this perceived notion that cruises are subject to many mishaps, especially due to weather. One of the best aspects about choosing AA as your travel insurance is that they will insure your cruise journey. There are exclusions when it comes to insuring the cruise during hurricane season, but you can still get some type of insurance. This means that if your cruise is canceled due to a hurricane or other act of nature, you can recoup some of your money!

Medical Coverage with Access America and Travelsafe Travel

TTI is a good option when you are leaving the country and are worried about medical coverage. Medical coverage is something that many people are concerned about when they visit another country that may have foods that are different than what they are used to in the United States.

Many people who are older also worry about medical coverage when they are out of the country. By getting a policy with TTI, these worries are alleviated. You can get the coverage that you need when you choose this provider and pick one of their package deals.

Speaking of Package Deals…

Both TTI and AA offer package deals for travel that you can get for yourself by going online. Both of these companies also procure agents when it comes to selling travel insurance. Thus, you can get coverage through the agency itself when you are booking your own trip, or you can purchase the insurance when you book a trip through a travel agency.

To recap, if you are looking for a good deal on cruise travel insurance, you may want to take a look at the packages that are available through AA. They have reasonable cruise insurance packages that will even cover acts of nature. On the other hand, if you are worried about getting sick when you travel outside of the country, then do take a look at TTI’s packages.

Apart from these two distinct differences, note that TTI and AA do offer a lot when it comes to travel protection so it would be best to visit their sites and scrutinize which package works best for your own specific needs.

Traveling nowadays is easy but that does not mean you’re not prone to accidents. Get complete peace of mind by ensuring you’re covered during your journey.

If you’re having a retired life and are looking out for a holiday package then, don’t overlook your insurance cover. It’s indispensable to get yourself insured while you travel so that if you happen to fall sick or break down due to some illness you don’t have to incur a huge medical expense in a foreign country. Avert any astronomical medical expenses. Enjoy your vacation. Look out for your options under Senior Citizen Travel Insurance cover.

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Such Insurance covers any illness or accident whilst traveling? You’re at the right place; special insurance policy such as a Senior Citizen Travel’s offers a good insurance cover for senior citizens in the age 65 to 89 years.

Other Travel Insurance covers available are:

Single Trip Insurance:

Cheap holiday insurance is available as and when you need it. Single trip cover is simple to arrange and offered at fantastic prices online.

Annual Travel Insurance:

Ideal for families, annual cover can often be cheaper than arranging single trip insurance every time. Best of all, it means you only have to think about it once and every time you go away you can relax in the knowledge that you’re protected.

Backpackers Insurance:

The longer the trip, the higher the risk of mishap and the more you’ll need to be backed by excellent cover in the event of an emergency. Online backpackers travel insurance won’t blow your budget and covers a wide range of trips – from a month’s jaunt around Europe to your next global adventure.

Business Travel Insurance:

Business travel can be stressful, infinitely worse if something goes wrong. Stay stress-free with our cost effective and tailor made business travel insurance packages.

Golf Insurance:

Golf insurance is vital, and not only for the reasons you may imagine. In addition to the risk to themselves, golfers can accidentally cause injury to others and even damage to property. An excellent insurance deal may make your next game less expensive!

With Senior Citizen Travel Insurance avail annual multi-trip policies for people up to the age of 79. Over 65 tour insurance policies are designed for mature and retired people in UK looking for good all round holiday cover at a competitive price. Try your online route for more options.

A family booked a rental cottage last summer, arrived safely and just loved the cottage. However, on the second day of their two week stay, the mom got a call to say her father was seriously ill and not expected to live. The family packed up and returned home, and sadly, her dad died a few days later. After the funeral, the renter called the cottage owner and asked what sort of refund she could expect as they had only used 2 days of their 14 day booking. The owner refused to pay any refund with the explanation that she relied on the cottage rental income to pay the costs of her cottage and it was always fully booked through the season. She was not able to find a replacement rental party at the last minute and as the rental agreement stated; if that was the case no money would be returned. Of course the rental group did not have travel insurance, which would probably have covered trip curtailment due to the illness and/or death of a close relative. The rental cost the family over $4000 and they were not able to recover a penny of that money.

Many people believe that trip insurance is only necessary if there is a flight involved; where delay, lost baggage, and the risk of the airline going bust, is covered; and medical cover is required in a foreign country. It’s not considered important, or not considered at all, to buy insurance to cover a trip taken by road to a self catering property in the same province or the same country.

Think again! Most cottage bookings are made several months in advance and many things could happen after you have booked to change your circumstances. Illnesses of any member of the traveling party, redundancy or a call to jury service are just a few of the situations that would be covered by a travel insurance policy. A few insurance companies also offer a ‘change of mind’ clause, allowing you to cancel for any reason after a booking has been made and paid in full. This normally pays out an amount sufficient to cover any cancellation fee the rental agency or owner may apply.

When you book your vacation rental property, check the property owners or agencies cancellation policies carefully. If it is not clear, ask the question. In general, most private owners and rental agencies will attempt to rebook a property if it is cancelled, and refund your money for the period they have rebooked, less a cancellation fee.

The premium paid for trip insurance becomes less significant, the more you are paying, however it is worthwhile at any price, for your peace of mind.

With the credit crunch hitting us even harder just as we unpack our suitcases, people are going through extreme measures to accumulate a little extra cash. Travel insurance scams have seen an 80% increase recently as the credit crunch develops with holiday makers claiming on items which have not even been stolen or claiming for more than the items actually worth.

Some people have booked holidays but now cannot afford to go on them; you will lose your deposit if you can’t attend your holiday if pre-booked. So people are paying a visit to the doctor and pretending to be ill so they can obtain a sick note, they can then use this sick note to legally get a full refund from the holiday provider.

It is extremely hard to determine a genuine claim as the foreign police are often uninterested in lost or stolen items such as cameras or iPods resulting in low prosecution rates for fraud abroad.

With the number of claims increasing it has forced the insurance companies to act, they now look out for tell tale signs from a claimant and can determine a fraudulent claim much easier now than a genuine claim. They are however, reluctant to release these signs.

If you have a claim rejected, it will be marked on your credit rating and will remain there for three to six years.

This has also forced the insurance companies to bump up their premiums resulting in the honest genuine people paying more whilst the frauds claim the extra cash. You can still save money on travel insurance by shopping around and comparing quotes.

If you’re about to head off traveling, whether it’s a business trip, a beach bum holiday or a round-the-world no-holds-barred adventure, you need travel insurance. Anything can happen, and often does – looking at the annual statistics showing the thousands of travellers who get into sticky situations. It’s important to know exactly what your travel insurance covers, so you know if you’re getting the right cover for you.

What’s Normally Included

The following areas are normally covered by travel insurance, but it’s important to know to what extent. For example, if you buy certain budget options, you may well be covered for theft of property, but if your laptop is worth $2000, it’s a bit pointless if your policy only covers you up to $500. You should also look at the ‘excess’ – this is the amount you need to pay yourself in the event of a claim, before any payments are made back to you.

o Overseas medical/hospital expenses: The amount you are covered for can differ wildly depending on which policy you opt for. If you have a pre-existing condition, the company should be aware of it, or your cover may be void.

o Overseas emergency medical assistance: As above, if travelling to countries with high healthcare costs, such as the USA, it’s a good idea to have this one marked ‘unlimited’.

o Luggage/Personal Effects: Consider the figure given for this – if you are travelling with particularly expensive equipment, it should be covered. This also covers travel documents.

o Accidental Death: Arguably benefiting your loved ones more than you, but worth considering.

o Permanent Disability: Most policies cover this.

o Delayed Luggage Allowance: If your clothes arrive a week after you, you might need some fresh ones.

o Personal Liability: If you cause an accident, you’ll need to pay damages.

o Cash: Cover for money stolen from your person.

o Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits: If for any (good) reason you are forced to cancel or delay your trip, such as illness or poor weather.

o Alternative Transport Expenses: such as in the event of flight cancellation

o Additional Expenses: a whole range of unforeseen circumstances can lead to you incurring extra costs.

o Hijacking: An unlikely one, but expensive policies often cover for this. If you’re not worried, don’t fork out for it.

o Loss of Injury: Again, some more expensive policies will cover you if you sustain an injury overseas and cannot work upon returning to Australia.

o Travel Services Provider Insolvency: In the unlikely event of your airline going bust before you have a chance to board, some policies will have you covered.

Top 5 things to look out for when choosing travel insurance

Many people find it a pain buying insurance, but make sure you don’t get caught out!

1. Ensure that if you’re likely to do a dangerous activity, such as paragliding or scuba diving, that you check if you’re covered for it – many insurance companies **** such activities as they cost them too much money.

2. Make sure that you have enough cover. Medical costs can be huge in certain countries, while budget insurance deals can leave you paying for half of your stolen camera despite being covered. If you’re carrying a lot of expensive gear, make sure you’re covered for all of it. Also, check what the excess is. If you have to pay $100 and your MP3 player that accidentally went scuba diving with you was five years old already, think twice.

3. Do you have existing medical conditions? You might not be covered – so own up before to make sure.

4. Other general exclusions include acts of war, loss of property due to extreme carelessness, or self-inflicted injury.

5. And finally, make sure you are covered for the full duration of your trip – a common error is to get international dates mixed up – just because your Sydney-bound flight leaves L.A. on the 14th, doesn’t mean it’s still the 14th when you arrive! Last minute bungles do happen!

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Travel insurance is almost mandatory in today’s climate. Medical bills can soar, costly equipment and baggage can get lost or stolen, and travel arrangements can get altered or cancelled without sufficient notice.

CGU Travel Insurance has developed a comprehensive policy to cover a traveler for almost any mishap that could occur during a trip to Australia; the company also provides access to their 24-hour, Worldwide Emergency Hotline. For a week?s Doubles Cover, there is a total premium of AUD$108.80; the coverage includes Additional Expenses ($20,000); Return of Hire Car and Excess Waiver, Cancellation Fees (whatever it costs); Luggage and Travel Documents ($5,000); Accidental Death and Disability ($20,000); and Liability ($1 Million). For further details, log on to http://www.cgu.com.au.

Worldcare Travel Insurance offers widespread benefits at economical rates. For a week?s Doubles Cover, there is a total premium of AUD$73, which includes Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits, Additional Expenses, Accidental Death, Luggage and Personal Effects, Travel Delay Allowance, Personal Liability, Rental Vehicle, and Domestic Services. The coverage applies from when you leave your home and go directly your place of departure, and ends when you return to your home. For details, send an email to sales@worldcare.com.au or fax +61 7 3305 7028.

NRMA Travel Insurance offers a choice of coverage options for both single travelers and families. And, with a 24-hour Worldwide Emergency Hotline service, help is just a phone call away. A week?s coverage for a single traveler comes at a Premium of AUD$63.22 and includes overseas medical, dental, and associated accommodation/traveling expenses; resumption of overseas journey if you have to return to Australia; payment of hire car excess waiver; trip cancellation expenses if you are unable to travel; lost or stolen luggage and travel documents; accidental death or disability and loss of income; and legal liability for injuries to a third person or property. For further details, contact 1300-305-790.

When lodging a claim, it’s necessary that the traveler inform the travel insurance firm as soon as possible and provide all the requisite information to support the claim, including original medical or police reports, declarations, receipts, valuations, or other evidence of ownership. This will help to process the claim smoothly.

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Travel insurance is probably one of the most confusing types of insurance around. Numerous clauses, sub-clauses and a myriad of little stipulations make for a very complicated policy, which nevertheless is very important for any holiday-maker.

People going on holiday tend to adopt an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude and, hopefully, it won’t. But nobody is immune to ill-health or robbery, and baggage loss can happen to the best of us. So, for sheer peace of mind, it’s worth looking into travel insurance when booking your trip.

The medical aspect of a travel insurance policy is probably the most important and the most needed. Far more people fall ill abroad than you’d think, and the cost of OTC medication can be extortionate abroad as well as at home. Even contracting a simple stomach bug can cost you dearly. And if you need to be hospitalised in a foreign country, you could find yourself deeply out of pocket – most countries don’t have an equivalent to the NHS.

It’s important to remember that most travel insurance policies won’t cover you for any problems related to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer, especially if you haven’t mentioned these to your insurer when taking out the policy. Like any other type of insurance, omitting details on application can result in claims being refused, so make sure you tell them everything. This also goes for any dependents who are travelling with you; their medical history needs to be disclosed, but if the holiday is cut short because of a pre-existing condition it’s unlikely you’ll be reimbursed. Pregnancy, although technically a pre-existing condition, will normally be covered as long as you will be less than 28 weeks pregnant by the end of your trip (24 weeks for a multiple pregnancy). This restriction can vary between insurers, so always check your policy.

If you lose your possessions on holiday, your insurer will normally only pay out if you had taken reasonable care of them; if you had left them unattended you will be seen as negligent and claims will normally be refused. Likewise, if you leave any valuables unattended in your hotel room, vehicle or mobile home, and they are stolen, you may not be able to claim. If possible, keep your valuables in a room or hotel safe, or keep them on your person.

If your holiday has to be cancelled, there are some situations you will not be covered for. If you cancel simply because you decide not to go, for example because of a relationship break-up, you won’t be refunded. If your holiday is cancelled by the hotel, or if you have an accident or unforeseen emergency at home, most insurers will refund the costs you have paid so far, plus any cancellation fees due. Again, check your policy first to see what is and isn’t covered.

When you look for a travel insurance policy, don’t just go on price alone. Annual travel insurance may work out cheaper, but if you only go away once a year for two weeks, you’d only really need cover for that time. Also, read all the small print, and ask questions, to make sure the policy covers exactly what you need.

What could golf travel insurance do for you?

Hopefully nothing at all – because it only comes into play if you’ve had a disaster with your golf clubs.

Prudent thoughts

Yet the trouble is, you can’t be sure that the above will be the case. Bad luck is not very selective in terms of who it strikes and where.

Picture the scene – you’ve just flown off for that long awaited golfing holiday and on your first day there your clubs are stolen.

That may prove to be a very premature end to your holiday unless you hire replacement equipment and that’s unlikely to come cheap.

Then, of course, you’ll have the costs of replacing your clubs – that’s even less likely to meet any definitions of low cost that you’re likely to come up with.

That’s where golf travel insurance may prove its worth.

Peace of mind

If you have a suitable golf insurance policy, the policy may be able to offer you:

- significant sums towards the cost of replacing your clubs;
- a similar payment towards the costs of hiring replacement equipment;
- cover for an individual club that’s stolen etc.

The hole in one

Some golfers have never achieved this and for others it may be a once in a lifetime experience.

However, that traditional open round of drinks at the clubhouse bar may cause you to have mixed feelings about your achievement as the costs bite home!

That’s why a golf cover policy typically will also contribute towards those costs. Of course, as with any insurance product, terms and conditions, exclusions and limitations will apply and you may wish to read these carefully to ensure you understand them.

The security of bricks and mortar

There are inevitably some golfers who believe that their clubs are perfectly safe when in the locker room or elsewhere in the clubhouse.

Well, they may be – but they may not be either. Some professional thieves specifically target golf clubs and premises and your clubs may not be entirely safe just because they’re inside.

The golf club itself may not accept liability for them and it’s worth keeping in mind that some typical travel insurance policies will not extend cover to include specialised sporting equipment such as golf clubs or surfboards etc.

So, making assumptions about the security of premises may be dangerous. Looking for more information on golf travel insurance might make more sense.