Travel Insurance More Essential Than Ever; THIA Offers = Tips

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 27, 2008) - With Canadians = expected to=20 make more than seven million trips out of the country this winter = season, the=20 importance of packing adequate travel insurance policies with their = essential=20 documents has never been more important.

"Whether it's a one-week = trip to=20 Cuba or a six-month snowbird vacation to Florida, Texas or Arizona, the = risks of=20 travelling without supplemental health insurance coverage are enormous," = says=20 Martha Turnbull, president of the Travel Health Insurance Association of = Canada,=20 the organization representing private travel insurance companies, = brokers and=20 agents. "Medical costs in all foreign countries, especially the United = States,=20 have risen so dramatically they are capable of wiping out many a = family's life=20 savings."

Since Canada's provincial health insurance plans cover = only a=20 small proportion of out-of-country health costs that it's not unusual = for=20 travellers to foreign countries to generate thousands of dollars of = medical=20 bills for even a few days of hospital confinement or outpatient = treatment, adds=20 Ms. Turnbull.

Recently, Ed Doucet a 33-year old Canadian on a = cycling=20 vacation in Spain flipped over his handlebars while riding down a = mountain road=20 and was hospitalized for five days with three pelvic fractures and four = cracked=20 ribs. His total hospital bill was $6,300.62 and his air ambulance = repatriation=20 with a special nurse cost another $16,426.88-a total of $22,727.50. Of = that,=20 OHIP paid $974.20. Astounding? Certainly. But if the accident had = happened in=20 the U.S. the hospital bill could easily have been $6,000 per = day.

"We=20 hear these kinds of stories every day," says Ms. Turmbull. "That's why = we urge=20 all Canadians planning out-of-country travel, even for one day, to take = their=20 time when assessing travel insurance and not wait to the last minute. = It's best=20 to do some homework. This is an important decision.

Ms. Turnbull = suggests=20 the following tips:

- Read your travel insurance policy. = Understand its=20 terms. And if in doubt, ask your agent to clarify or contact the insurer = directly. Remember that travel insurance is not a substitute for your = provincial=20 insurance, it is a supplement to it and it has exclusions and=20 limitations.

- Based on your age or trip duration, you may be = asked to=20 complete a medical questionnaire. Be honest with your answers. If you do = not=20 know how to answer a question, speak with your doctor.

- Consider = plans=20 that offer deductibles. The higher the deductible, the lower the = premium. For=20 those who feel comfortable with a higher deductible, this is an = excellent way to=20 reduce insurance costs and therefore the overall costs of travel. But = maker sure=20 you can pay the deductible to the hospital, doctor, or clinic if and = when you=20 have to.

- Know your insurer. Deal with a reputable company = licensed to=20 sell travel insurance in your province. Make sure you know who the = assistance=20 company is, and that they provide you with a contact number, when and = where you=20 need help, on a 24/7 basis.

- If dealing with a foreign travel = provider=20 online, such as a cruise company, the travel insurance they provide may = not be=20 adequate. Check with a Canadian travel insurance agent or broker to see = if you=20 need to fill in any gaps in coverage.

- If you have only credit = card=20 travel insurance, check out its benefit and exclusion terms = carefully.

-=20 Only a few cards with relatively high annual premiums offer = out-of-country=20 health benefits comparable to stand-alone travel insurance. Check your = contract=20 carefully.

About THIA. THIA is the national organization = representing=20 travel insurers, underwriters, re-insurers, emergency assistance = companies, air=20 ambulance companies and allied services. Its website is http://www.thiaonline.com/.

For more information, please contact

Travel Health = Insurance=20 Association of Canada
Martha Turnbull
President
Cell: (416)=20 471-4221
Email: Martha.Turnbull@rbc.com
We= bsite: http://www.thiaonline.com/=20

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