Squaremouth Pressroom

Top Five Myths for Travel Insurance During Cruise Season, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:20:33 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 24, 2012 – Having the right travel insurance to protect a cruise can mean the difference between a great trip and a financial crisis, warns Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “Many travelers fall into the trap of assuming they understand their policy’s coverage before thoroughly reading the certificate,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “This can lead to travelers thinking they are covered for situations the policy actually doesn’t cover.” When comparing travel insurance policies travelers should review the top travel insurance myths to get the best protection and value.

Myth #1: I Need $1 Million in Medical Evacuation Coverage
Don’t waste your money. “Some policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Since the costs to medically transport someone can increase the further away they are from home, understanding how much medical evacuation is necessary could alleviate many potential financial burdens. Getting someone home from a resort within in the U.S. may only cost $20,000. At the other end of the scale, evacuating someone from a cruise ship in Antarctica to a hospital in Argentina, then to the United States, could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination and type of trip. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for a cruise to the Carribbean, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Myth #2: The Insurance Provider Will Come Rescue Me From the Cruise
“Most people mistakenly believe medical evacuation coverage is a form of search and rescue, plucking injured hikers off of mountainsides or heart attack victims off cruise ships at sea,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

In most cases, local emergency services and the coast guard of the country where the person is injured are in charge of first response. In an emergency, it’s important to first dial the local equivalent of 9-1-1, then the travel insurance provider. However, if the travel insurance provider is the first to be called, they will coordinate local emergency services to make sure help is on the way.

Myth #3: Medical Evacuation Insurance Will Cover My Medical Treatment
Although medical evacuation insurance pays for everything from transportation to the nearest medical facility, to moving a victim to a different hospital for specialized care, to the return trip home, it doesn’t cover the cost of any medical treatment along the way.

“Evacuation providers, such as Medjet Assist and Air Ambulance don’t reimburse for things like an ambulance or medical treatment, so Emergency Medical coverage is still recommended,” advises Byrne.

Myth #4: I Can Choose Where I Want to Be Evacuated
Only to a degree. Victims or their family should call the travel insurance provider’s emergency assistance number as soon as reasonably possible. The emergency assistance team will be expected to be involved in all major medical and logistical decisions, including where treatment occurs. If specialized care or transport to another facility is needed, there are three parties involved in the decision: the insurance company, the treating physician and the policy holder.

If someone wants the option to choose where they will be treated, some travel insurance policies offer a Hospital of Choice upgrade. The Hospital of Choice benefit gives travelers the option to choose where they would like to be evacuated in the event of medical emergency. Travel Guard, Medjet Assist, Air Ambulance and Global Rescue all offer policies with the benefit.

Myth #5: The Travel Insurance Will Pay Up Front For My Medical Treatment
It’s not guaranteed. Many travelers are not aware that travel insurance policies are meant to be reimbursement policies

“Many travel insurance providers have the ability to arrange payment with medical providers overseas, but it is the treating facility’s decision as to whether or not they wish to work with you,” explains Suzanne Munson, Marketing Manager at Seven Corners, a travel insurance provider. “Be prepared to pay for your medical care upfront, and file a claim for reimbursement.”

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

About our Zero Complaint Guarantee
The cornerstone of our commitment to customers is Squaremouth’s guarantee to remove any company from our website if there is a customer complaint that cannot be resolved to our satisfaction. Squaremouth offers the broadest selection of insurance with an emphasis on quality and follow-up care in companies featured. We also factor in independent evaluation from the insurance industry watchdog AM Best.

Squaremouth offers products from the following travel insurance carriers:
Air Ambulance Card, CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert Admin, Global Rescue, Global Underwriters, HCC, HTH Worldwide, IMG, ITravelInsured, Medex, Medjet Assist, MH Ross, On Call International, Seven Corners, Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Services, Travel Insured, Travelers Liberty, Travelex, TravelSafe and USA Assist.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

LA Times January 22, 2012 – On the Spot: Will Costa refund airfares for future cruises?

Sarah M Byrne — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:39:10 +0000

…This may be one instance where travel insurance will not help you. As regular readers know, we often urge travel insurance if the amount you’ve invested is more than the amount you can afford to lose. But this time, even insurance might not help you, said Sarah Byrne, marketing manager for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site based inSt. Petersburg, Fla. Insurance might reimburse you for a mechanical breakdown, she said, but this sinking isn’t that, and although a couple of insurers have said they would cover this loss, most will not, she said.

See the full article from USA Today at: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-spot-20120122,0,290542.story

USA Today January 19, 2012 – Does travel insurance cover disasters such as Concordia?

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:50:05 +0000

…Those who upgrade to Cancel for Any Reason protection can, in fact, cancel for any reason, says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance.

According to Harvey, even if you cancel on whim, you’ll receive a refund up to 75% of the trip cost. But, he adds, to qualify for this benefit you need to have purchased a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of making your initial deposit.

See the full article from USA Today at: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/01/costa-concordia-travel-insurance/607190/1

Travelers May Not Be Able To Cancel Their Upcoming Cruise Without Cancel For Any Reason Coverage, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:33:53 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 18, 2012 – The recent cruise ship tragedy has travelers questioning whether travel insurance will provide reimbursement if they decide to cancel an upcoming cruise. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, it’s important for travelers to understand whether their travel insurance adequately protects them in the event they want to cancel. “While looking for a travel insurance policy, travelers should consider whether they are content with being able cancel for limited reasons, such as health and weather, or if they want the option to cancel if they are concerned a similar accident could happen on their cruise ship,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

“Since cancelling for fear of a similar situation happening isn’t covered under the standard Trip Cancellation benefit, travelers will want to look for policies with the Cancel for Any Reason benefit,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. Unlike Trip Cancellation, Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel the trip without explanation, and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost. However, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

“Most travel insurance programs do not provide coverage under the Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption benefits for events similar to the recent cruise ship loss since it was caused by the cruise line,” explains Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President at iTravelInsured. For coverage to be available, the cause of the event would have to be listed under the qualified reasons for reimbursement within the travel insurance policy. This type of situation is not listed under most policies.

In the event a travelers’ cruise is interrupted, Squaremouth encourages them to contact their travel insurance provider to see what type of coverage is available. “While CSA’s policies vary slightly in exact coverage, for this type of event the majority offer coverage and assistance for emergency medical treatment, evacuation, baggage loss and costs incurred due to finding new lodging,” explains Kathy Townend, CSA Travel Protection’s Marketing Manager.

Travelers are also reminded that each travel insurance policy comes with an emergency assistance number. Not only can they assist someone in a medical emergency, but they can help arrange an emergency cash transfer, language interpretation services, travel documents replacements, emergency messaging services and transportation services.

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Provides Travel Insurance Tips for This Year’s Cruise Wave Season

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:36:09 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 10, 2012 – As the most popular time of year for booking a cruise vacation has begun, travelers should take note of these important tips when buying a travel insurance policy. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, understanding the basics of travel insurance will help travelers save money and get the best coverage. Follow these tips to successfully choose the right travel insurance policy for an upcoming cruise.

Don’t Buy From the Cruise Line
Buying travel insurance from your airline, cruise line or tour company could result in purchasing a travel insurance policy for a higher premium with lower benefits. This is a common mistake many travelers make and can be the result of the lack of travel insurance options provided by the travel supplier. Squaremouth recommends searching for travel insurance on a comparison engine. This will provide more options with better travel insurance policies for less money.

Don’t Over Spend On Excessive Coverage
Each traveler’s requirements will vary depending on their destination, age or health. If a person is young, healthy and traveling to the Caribbean, the medical requirements will be low. The opposite will apply if a traveler is older or traveling to far away countries.

“Some travel insurance policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a travel insurance policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for visiting Europe, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Don’t Be Thrown Off By a Less Expensive Price
“While comparing travel insurance on Squaremouth.com, don’t be concerned that a policy is inferior because of its low price,” says Harvey. “It simply means the traveler has hit the ‘Sweet Spot,’ and qualified for the best rate.”

Many people mistakenly believe paying more for a product ensures a better policy or faster claim payment. The reality is that each product is aimed at a different demographic. This explains why some policies are inexpensive but offer better benefits. Squaremouth maintains a zero complaint policy, therefore all companies on the site adhere to very strict standards for Squaremouth’s clients. As a result, they can expect to receive only quality products and service from every travel insurance provider on Squaremouth.

Choosing the Right Cancellation Coverage
Having the option to cancel in case of an illness or death of a relative is typically the main reason for purchasing travel insurance. When deciding how much cancellation coverage is needed, it’s wise for travelers to think of the potential reasons their trip could be cancelled, and then check that the policy provides coverage for those circumstances. If those concerns are not listed under the standard Trip Cancellation benefit, consider purchasing a policy with the benefit Cancel for Any Reason.

“Cancel for Any Reason was created to offer additional cancellation coverage for the unexpected situations that are not covered in a travel insurance policy, such as fear of bad weather” explains Byrne. “It also gives someone the option to decide whether they want to take their trip without providing an explanation.”

Although this benefit may be appealing to some, it will be an additional cost that may not be necessary for most travelers. “In most cases, Trip Cancellation will provide the right amount of cancellation coverage needed by travelers,” says Byrne.

Don’t Worry If You Buy the Wrong Policy
Although there are many choices and options when it comes to buying travel insurance, travelers shouldn’t be concerned if they end up buying the wrong policy. Most policies offer a money back guarantee that will allow travelers to cancel their policy and receive a refund. “If travelers are not happy with their policy, they are not required to keep it,” says Byrne. Depending on the provider, the guarantee can last for up to 15 days after the purchase date. Most companies will refund the full amount minus an admin fee of around $6 to $8 per policy.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Hazardous Sports Coverage for Your Upcoming Ski Trip, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:15:18 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL December 30, 2011 - A ski trip with friends and family is a great way to ring in the New Year, but don’t spend extra on travel insurance to cover the trip down the slopes. As many travelers look into buying a travel insurance policy to protect them in the event of an accident or medical emergency, Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, recommends not buying a policy’s optional hazardous sports upgrade. “Most standard travel insurance policies cover someone while they are skiing or snowboarding,” explains Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “Additional coverage is only necessary if they will be participating in heliskiing or another extreme sport, such as mountaineering or skydiving.”

“It’s common for travelers to question whether or not they need the additional coverage,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Although most travelers will not need it, it’s always important to read the fine print to know exactly what the policy will cover.”

While comparing policies, travelers should review the list of activities not covered by the policy. This allows travelers to confirm whether or not the travel insurance policy will cover them while skiing or snowboarding. These activities are typically found under the ‘General Exclusions’ section within the policy’s certificate. If skiing or snowboarding is not listed, travelers do not need to buy the upgrade, saving them money.

If additional coverage is needed, the Hazardous Sports benefit will cover evacuation to a hospital and medical treatment if injured during an extreme sport. “If you have a policy that excludes skiing and you didn’t select the Hazardous Sports option, a travel insurance provider will deny the claim, leaving you responsible for all medical bills,” advises Byrne.

Travelers should also be aware if they are planning to participate in a sporting competition, coverage will most likely not be available. This can include anyone from kids participating in a weekend ski competition to a professional snowboarder. “Even though the sporting event may not be considered a hazardous sports, most travel insurance providers will not cover these athletes,” says Byrne.

About Squaremouth

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Top Three Tips to Avoid Buying Too Much Travel Insurance Coverage, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:25:10 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL December 22, 2011 – As holiday travel begins, many travelers are looking into purchasing travel insurance to protect their expenses. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, many travelers are spending more money on travel insurance policies to cover pre-existing medical conditions simply because they assume they need it. “Understanding pre-existing coverage can save travelers money and allow them to choose from more policies with better coverage,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Follow these tips to prevent three common mistakes many travelers make when buying travel insurance.

Pre-Existing Coverage Might Not Be Needed
Many travel insurance providers offer policies that cover travelers in the event a pre-existing medical condition prevents them from traveling. However, many travelers mistakenly buy a more expensive policy because they think they need coverage for their pre-existing condition.

What many travelers are not aware of is what travel insurance providers consider to be a pre-existing condition. Each travel insurance provider has a look back period to determine if a condition is pre-existing. For example, some of Travel Guard’s policies have a 180 day look back period. If someone’s condition has been stable during the 180 days prior to effective date, Travel Guard will not consider that person’s condition to be pre-existing. That person will not need pre-existing coverage, allowing them to have more travel insurance options for a less expensive price.

Pre-Existing Coverage for a Non-Traveling Family Member
In other situations, travelers buy travel insurance to protect them in the event an ill family member’s condition worsens, and they are unable to take the trip. Depending on the travel insurance policy, some will require travelers to buy pre-existing coverage, even though they do not have the pre-existing condition.

“Nearly half of the travel insurance providers will require travelers to have pre-existing coverage if they want to be able to cancel due to a non-traveling family member’s pre-existing condition,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Since many travelers are not aware of this limitation, it’s common for them to be concerned if their travel insurance quote does not return policies with pre-existing coverage. In these situations, Squaremouth recommends looking for a travel insurance policy that doesn’t look to see if a non-traveling family member’s illness was a result of a pre-existing condition.

“The key is too look into a policy’s definition of a pre-existing condition to determine who needs pre-existing coverage,” says Harvey. CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert, HTH Worldwide, MH Ross, Seven Corners, Travel Insurance Services and Travel Safe all offer policies that only define travelers as those who need pre-existing coverage .

Limitations on Pre-Existing Coverage
When buying a policy that covers pre-existing conditions, make sure to read the fine print.
“Although some policies offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, some policies will limit the amount of coverage available,” explains Byrne.

For example, HTH Worldwide’s TravelGap Excursion and IMG’s Patriot International both cover pre-existing conditions, however, the traveler must be enrolled in a primary health insurance plan for coverage to be valid. HCC Medical Insurance Services and Seven Corners offer policies limiting the amount of coverage that can reimbursed for pre-existing medical conditions. For example, although the policy offers $50,000 in emergency medical, HCC’s Atlas International policy will only reimburse travelers under the age of 70, $15,000 per unexpected recurrence resulting from a pre-existing condition.

It’s important to remember, if a traveler requires pre-existing coverage, they should shop early for travel insurance. Almost all travel insurance policies require a policy to be purchase within 14-30 from the first trip deposit for pre-existing coverage to be available. Alternatively, CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide plans are the exception to the rule. Most of their plans cover pre-existing conditions if the insurance is purchased within 24 hours of the final trip payment, regardless of the deposit date.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Time is Running Out to Buy Travel Insurance for Iceland’s Volcano Katla, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:58:51 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL December 6, 2011 – Holiday travelers are being warned to prepare for travel delays as a result of Iceland’s volcano Katla. With more than 500 tremors in and around the caldera of Katla in November 2011, scientists expect Katla to erupt any day now. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers still have time to purchase a travel insurance policy and have coverage in the event Katla delays or ruins their trip.

Travelers should be warned if they buy a travel insurance policy after the eruption, they will most likely not be covered. “Travel Insurance policies generally do not cover events related to natural disasters that are in progress or have just happened,” warns Squaremouth’s CEO Chris Harvey. “Once an event is considered foreseen, it is too late to purchase a policy that will cover that event.”

When comparing policies, travelers should look for key benefits, such as Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Travel Delay and Missed Connection. Although most travel insurance policies are similar in that they reimburse the cost of food, lodging and local transportation, some policies tend to differ in the reasons a traveler can cancel and receive a refund.

“Policy language for canceling or interrupting a trip is very specific, there are rarely blanket statements that define coverage,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Even if a traveler experiences something completely out of their control and entirely unforeseeable, if it is not clearly stated in the policy, coverage may not be available. It is always a good idea to review the covered reasons for trip cancellation and trip interruption to fully understand how the trip is protected.

Most travel insurance providers typically consider volcanic eruptions as natural disasters, however, some travel insurance providers defined last year’s ash cloud as a weather event, giving travelers more coverage.

It’s important to remember, airport closures and damaged roads or bridges from natural disasters are seldom covered reasons to cancel or interrupt a trip. There might be coverage if an airline stops servicing the destination for 24 or 48 hours, but normally only if caused by inclement weather. Few travel insurance policies provide coverage when a natural disaster causes a cancellation or interruption.

“CSA Travel Protection considers natural disasters and adverse weather to be separate categories of events,” explains Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection, a travel insurance provider. “Although they sometimes occur together or overlap, a natural disaster is not always caused by adverse weather, and adverse weather is not always accompanied by a natural disaster.”

If someone wants the option to cancel whether or not Katla erupts, Squaremouth recommends finding a policy that offers the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel the trip without explanation, and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost. However, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

It’s Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance to Protect Your American Airlines Ticket, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:09:24 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL November 30, 2011 – The recent bankruptcy announcement of American Airlines has many travelers looking into travel insurance to protect their expenses. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers should not buy a travel insurance policy to cover their American Airlines ticket. “Although many travel insurance policies can cover someone in the event their airline, cruise line or tour operator goes bankrupt, once the bankruptcy is announced, new policies will not cover anything resulting from that bankruptcy,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

“As we’re seeing with American Airlines, even large organizations can run into financial trouble. This is one of the unforeseen circumstances that can ruin a trip,” explains Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection. “If a traveler purchases a plan with financial insolvency coverage, they can be reimbursed if their trip is cancelled or interrupted due to the travel supplier’s financial default.”

Although Financial Default coverage is no longer available for American Airline customers, travelers looking for coverage for another airline or cruise line should be aware that many insurance providers only offer bankruptcy coverage if the travel insurance policy is purchased within 14 days from the first trip payment or deposit.

“Even when a trip is booked well in advance with only a minimal deposit, that date still determines how long the Financial Default benefit is available for purchase,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Most travel insurance providers also have a 14 day wait period after the policy is purchased. As a result, if someone bought a policy today, they would not be able to make a travel insurance claim within the first two weeks due to bankruptcy.

If someone misses the 14 day time frame to buy Financial Default coverage, they should look for policies from Travelex Insurance Services, CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide. CSA and HTH both offer Financial Default coverage if the policy is purchased before the final trip payment, while Travelex’s Basic, Select and Max policies offer the benefit at any time.

It’s important to remember, if a traveler purchases travel insurance directly from the airline and that airline goes bankrupt, coverage may not be valid. “To protect your travel investment, whether a single airline ticket purchase, a cruise or other vacation, third party travel insurance is the always the best option,” says Byrne.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Travel Insurance to Cover Your Camera, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:10:08 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL November 21, 2011 – Traveling with an expensive camera or computer? According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers should check their travel insurance policy to see how much protection they have for these items. “Most travel insurance policies limit the amount that will be reimbursed for items like cameras, computers and jewelery,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com.

Although most travel insurance policies cover travelers for lost, damaged or stolen personal items, the amount of coverage will vary from one policy to the next. If someone is traveling with an expensive camera or jewelery, Squaremouth encourages them to look closely at the fine print.

“Although a policy may have coverage for up to $5,000 in Baggage and Personal Items Loss benefit, most policies limit the amount that can be claimed for like computers, iPods and watches,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

For example, Travel Guard and Travel Insured International offer policies covering up to $2,500 in Baggage and Personal Items Loss, however, only $500 will reimbursed for those types of items.

“Travelex insurance policies have a specific limit for cameras, jewelry, furs and other expensive possessions because travel insurance can only cover a certain amount of risk for the premium paid,” says Christine Buggy, Director of Marketing at Travelex Insurance Services. “Plus with these types of items, there is also a high risk of fraud.”

If travelers want more baggage protection than the average travel insurance policy, they should look for policies from CSA Travel Protection, HTH Worldwide and Seven Corners. CSA and HTH both offer baggage protection ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 without a specific items limit, and Seven Corners offers policies with up to $2,000 in specific items coverage.

If someone is traveling with high priced items and cannot find enough coverage through a travel insurance policy, Squaremouth recommends insuring those items under a homeowners or personal property insurance.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Check Your Health Insurance – You Might Not Be Covered Overseas, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:32:55 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL November 14, 2011 – As the holidays approach, many travelers are considering travel insurance to cover medical expenses while overseas. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, it’s important for travelers to understand how much coverage their health insurance provides before traveling. “Many travelers are unaware their health insurance doesn’t cover them once they leave the U.S.,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “Understanding what coverage they may or may not have prior to buying travel insurance will ensure the right amount of protection while saving them money.”

Travelers who do not have health insurance while traveling have the option of choosing between a primary or secondary medical travel insurance policy. “A secondary plan means that if no other coverage is available, the secondary plan becomes primary,” explains Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President of iTravelInsured, a travel insurance provider. Since they are not restricted to the type of coverage they can buy, Squaremouth encourages travelers to look for travel insurance policies with the best coverage for the lowest price.

While comparing travel insurance policies, don’t assume a secondary policy is inferior to a primary policy. The only difference between the two is the order in which a travel insurance claim can be filed with the travel insurance provider. Primary policies allow claims to be filed directly with the travel insurance provider, eliminating any involvement of a traveler’s health insurance company, while secondary policies require filing the claim with any existing insurance before filing with the travel insurance provider.

Although a secondary travel insurance policy can require more paperwork during the claims process, travelers usually find more coverage in a secondary policy for the same value as a primary policy. However, if someone wants the convenience of only filing with one insurance provider, Squaremouth recommends buying a primary travel insurance policy. Primary policies are available from travel insurance providers including Travel Guard, Travel Insured International, Travelex Insurance Services and USA Assist.

If a traveler’s health insurance covers them overseas, Squaremouth recommends checking how much coverage is available. “If someone has a large deductible with their primary health care, they can purchase a secondary travel insurance policy to pick up any deductibles or out of pocket expenses,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Secondary travel insurance policies are available with smaller amounts of medical and medical evacuation for this reason.” Choosing secondary coverage is a good way to save money on the premium without sacrificing a lot of coverage.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Five Ways to Improve Your Travel Insurance Purchase, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:54:13 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL November 7, 2011 – Buying travel insurance may seem like a hassle, but with the help of Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers will feel confident knowing they have made the right travel insurance decision. “Many travelers fall into the trap of buying an expensive travel insurance policy, simply because they think the more expensive the policy, the better the coverage,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Squaremouth recommends following these five tips to save money while getting the best coverage.

Don’t Over Insure
To prevent over insuring, compile a list of the of the main reasons for purchasing travel insurance. If a traveler knows the coverage they want, they will save money by buying a policy that provides only those benefits. Searching for travel insurance on a comparison search engine will provide travelers more options with better policies for less money.

Look for the “Sweet Spot”
Since travel insurance providers all have an ideal customer in mind, each product is aimed at a different demographic. This explains why some policies are inexpensive but offer better benefits.

“While comparing travel insurance, don’t be concerned that a policy is inferior because of its low price,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “This situation is common, and simply means the traveler has hit the ‘Sweet Spot,’ and qualified for the best rate.”

Be Aware of Time Limits on Benefits
Most travel insurance providers offer certain benefits, such as Pre-existing medical coverage, Cancel for Any Reason and Financial Default, that are only available if a traveler purchases a policy within 14-30 days from the first trip payment. However, CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide offer policies that do provide Pre-existing medical coverage up to the day before the last trip payment.

“Our Custom Luxe plan allows travelers to purchase the insurance plan including coverage for Pre-existing conditions up to their final trip payment. Travelers may not consider the need to protect their trip when they first book their travel arrangements, so this gives them the flexibility to purchase without having to compromise on coverage,” says Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection.

Purchase Only the Minimum Requirements
Each person’s requirements will vary depending on their destination, age or health. If a person is young, healthy and traveling to the Caribbean, the medical requirements will be low. The opposite will apply if a traveler is older or traveling to far away countries.

“Nearly 100 percent of products provide similar cancellation coverage, so if a traveler does not require any other coverage, choose the cheapest product,” says Byrne.

Money Back Guarantee
Most policies offer a money back guarantee that will allow travelers to cancel their policy and receive a refund.

“If they are unhappy, they are not obligated to keep the policy,” says Brendan Sharkey, Director of Individual Products at HTH Worldwide.

Depending on the provider, the guarantee can last for up to 15 days after the purchase date. Most companies will refund the full amount minus an admin fee of around $6 to $8 per policy.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Three Ways to Avoid Buying The Wrong Travel Insurance, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:54:59 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL October 28, 2011 – Having the right travel insurancepolicy could prevent an emergency from turning into a major disaster. “Understanding the basics of buying travel insurance is the best way to find a travel insurance policy,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. Follow Squaremouth’s advice to avoid buying the wrong travel insurance policy.

When to buy a policy?
Travelers can wait to buy travel insurance up until the day before they leave, however, if they choose to wait, they might miss out on important coverage.

It’s wise for travelers to consider what coverage they need before making a deposit on their trip. For example, if someone needs coverage for a pre-existing condition, they should buy a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of making the deposit on the trip. Once the deadline has passed, that coverage is no longer available.

In addition to Pre-Existing Condition coverage, the benefits Cancel For Any Reason, Terrorism and Financial Default also require someone to purchase a policy within 14-30 days of their trip deposit.

“Almost every policy will cost the same whether quoting one year or one day before departure, so it’s always better to purchase sooner rather than later,” says Byrne. Purchasing travel insurance early can give someone extra coverage without an extra charge.

Where to buy a policy?
Many cruise lines and tour operators offer travel insurance policies, but they typically cost more and can include large administration charges. Before buying a travel insurance policy, travelers should compare different policies. Comparison sites, like Squaremouth.com, provide travelers more options with better policies for less money.

How much should it cost?
Whether someone buys a policy from a cruise line, comparison site or travel insurance provider, the same policy will cost the same price. On average, travelers under the age of 70 can expect to pay around four to ten percent of their total trip cost, while travelers over 70 can expect to pay between seven and 12 percent.

Since comparison sites allow you to compare the prices of more than one company, it’s common to find a policy that is significantly less expensive than other policies.

“Don’t be concerned that a travel insurance policy is inferior simply because of it’s low price,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. Since travel insurance providers all have an ideal customer in mind, each product is aimed at a different demographic.This explains why some plans are less expensive but offer better benefits.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

When You Shouldn’t Buy Cancel For Any Reason, Explains Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:34:26 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL October 20, 2011 - As Cancel for Any Reason continues to grow in popularity, more travelers are including the benefit in their travel insurance policy. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, Cancel for Any Reason can be a great benefit, but most travelers don’t need it. “If someone knows their travel insurance policy will not cover them to cancel, they should upgrade their policy to include Cancel For any Reason,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “However, if someone doesn’t need it, they could end up paying up to 50 percent more for something they are already covered for.”

Many travelers pay extra for Cancel for Any Reason assuming they need the benefit to be able to cancel their trip and receive a refund in the event of illness, injury, inclement weather or terrorism. However, the Trip Cancellation benefit is included in most travel insurance policies and covers travelers for these reasons.

“In most cases, people want to take their trip, and the reasons they would need to cancel are already covered under Trip Cancellation,” explains Byrne. As a result, Squaremouth usually does not recommend upgrading a travel insurance policy to include Cancel for Any Reason.

Cancel for Any Reason was created to offer additional cancellation coverage for the unexpected occurrences that are not covered in a travel insurance policy, such as a visa not arriving on time. It also gives someone the option to decide whether or not they want to take their trip. Without Cancel For Any Reason, someone cannot make a travel insurance claim if they cancel their trip for fear of something bad happening. Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel without providing an explanation, however, travelers are required to cancel 48 hours prior to departing.

In addition to an increase in premium, travelers should not expect a full refund like Trip Cancellation offers. Most travel insurance policies will only reimburse up to 75 percent of the trip cost. MH Ross and Global Alert, both travel insurance providers, are the exceptions with policies that offer a refund up to 90 percent of the trip cost.

“Understanding the limitations of Cancel for Any Reason can prevent travelers from paying extra for coverage that was already included in the policy,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Before purchasing a travel insurance policy, travelers should review the covered reasons under the Trip Cancellation benefit. If a potential reason for cancelling is not listed, they should consider upgrading the travel insurance policy to include Cancel for Any Reason.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why Travel Insurance and Drinking Don’t Mix, Explains Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:25:27 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL October 9, 2011 – As Oktoberfest takes place around the world, many travelers are faced with temptations that could end up costing them thousands of dollars. “If excessive drinking leads to an accident, illness or injury, most travelers will not be able to make a claim under their travel insurance, as their policy will not cover them,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “As a result, travelers will be stuck paying out of pocket for all medical expenses.”

“The intention of the general exclusion is often drugs and alcohol will ‘blur’ a person’s ability to make proper decisions and the insurance company should not be responsible for the loss as a result of their intoxication,” explains Christine Buggy, Director of Marketing at Travelex Insurance Services.

In most cases, the travel insurance provider will not know if a claim is the result of having too much to drink, however, it’s important to remember all travel insurance providers require documentation for a claim to be processed. If alcohol is included in the reports, the travel insurance provider could deny the claim.

So how much can someone drink while they are on vacation? Most travel insurance providers will typically look at the level of intoxication as found in the documentation and make their judgement based on the legal level allowed in that jurisdiction.

In addition, travel insurance providers will also refuse coverage if someone participates in an illegal act or crime. “Travel Insurance specifically looks to protect a traveler from the unexpected occurrence that interferes with their travel plans and is not intended to protect a traveler from a loss that occurs due to their own decision making,” says Buggy. “Should the insured choose to participate in an illegal act, they are choosing their fate at that time for what their future holds and it’s not an insurance companies responsibility to re-coup their loss.”

“If someone is unhappy with this provision, they are not obligated to keep the policy,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. Most policies offer a money back guarantee that will allow travelers to cancel their policy and receive a refund. Depending on the provider, the guarantee can last for up to 15 days after the purchase date. Most companies will refund the full amount minus an admin fee of around $6 to $8 per policy.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

When You Shouldn’t Buy Cancel For Any Reason, Explains Squaremouth

Money Saving Tips When Buying Travel Insurance, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:15:33 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL September 29, 2011 – With the upcoming holidays, many travelers are looking for ways to cut back and save. For some, travel insurance will be the first expense to go. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, trimming a vacation budget by skipping the travel insurance could turn out to be an expensive mistake. To ensure protection and savings when purchasing travel insurance, follow these tips.

Don’t Assume You Need Cancel For Any Reason
According to Squaremouth, Cancel for Any Reason is one travel insurance benefit most travelers do not need. Cancel for Any Reason is an upgrade option that allows travelers to cancel a trip without explanation and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost. Since the Trip Cancellation benefit covers travelers to cancel their trip and receive reimbursement in the event of illness, injury, inclement weather or terrorism, Squaremouth usually does not recommend upgrading a travel insurance policy to include Cancel for Any Reason.

“In almost all cases, people want to take their trip, and the reasons they would need to cancel are already covered under Trip Cancellation,” explains Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

Before purchasing a travel insurance policy, travelers should review the covered reasons under the Trip Cancellation benefit. If a potential reason for cancelling is not listed, they should then consider upgrading the travel insurance policy to include Cancel for Any Reason.

Don’t Pay Extra for $2 Million of Evacuation Coverage
“Some travel insurance policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a travel insurance policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Instead, travelers should become aware of how much evacuation coverage they really need. Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for visiting Europe, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Don’t Buy Rental Car Coverage
Since many car insurance companies and credit card providers offer protection while driving a rental car, most travelers do not need to buy travel insurance to cover a rental car. Car insurance companies, including State Farm, Allstate and Progressive offer protection, however, not all policies will cover “loss of use” fees if the rental car requires repairs. Most American Express, MasterCard and Visa credit cards provide a collision damage waiver, but travelers must purchase the rental car on the card for coverage to be available.

If travelers do not have the option to receive coverage from their car insurance or credit card provider, and do not have the need for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, rental car protection is available from Travel Guard or American Express. Both travel insurance companies offer rental car collision insurance ranging from $7 to $9 a day.

Don’t Buy Travel Insurance From Your Travel Supplier
Buying travel insurance from your airline, cruise line or tour company could result in a higher premium with lower benefits. This is a common mistake many travelers make and can be the result of the lack of travel insurance options provided by the travel supplier. Squaremouth recommends searching for travel insurance on a comparison engine. This will provide more options with better travel insurance policies for less money.

Don’t Cover Refundable Trip Costs
Since travel insurance only lets travelers recoup non-refundable cash losses, travelers should not include expenses that can be refunded.

“Adding those values to a travel insurance policy will increase the cost of your premium without adding additional coverage,” warns Byrne. When buying a travel insurance policy, only insure the trip costs that would not be refunded if the trip was cancelled.

Don’t Confuse ‘Cancel for Work Reasons’ With ‘Employment Layoff’
“If someone is laid off, travel insurance gives them the option to cancel their trip and receive reimbursement, instead of taking a trip they may not be able to afford anymore,” says Byrne.

Although many travel insurance policies offer this coverage under the standard Trip Cancellation benefit, it’s important to read the fine print. Some travel insurance policies require you to be employed with the same company anywhere from one to five years to qualify for a refund, while others restrict coverage to full-time employees.

Squaremouth warns travelers not to purchase the benefit Cancel For Work Reasons assuming it is the same as employment layoff coverage. Cancel for Work Reasons can cover someone if they are called back to work suddenly, if their company merges, if they have to relocate or if work is affected by fire, flood or other natural disaster. This benefit is an upgrade in many travel insurance policies, however, doesn’t apply if you lose your job, whereas most standard cancellation coverage does.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

Squaremouth offers products from the following travel insurance carriers:
Air Ambulance Card, CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert, Global Rescue, Global Underwriters, HCC, HTH Worldwide, IMG, ITravelInsured, Medex, Medjet Assist, MH Ross, On Call International, Seven Corners, Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Services, Travel Insured, Travelex, TravelSafe and USA Assist.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Travel Insurance and Hazardous Sports – What You Need To Know, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:11:54 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL September 21, 2011 – Now that the cooler weather has arrived, many travelers are adding outdoor activities back into their vacations. “If you are planning a trip involving extreme sports, make sure your travel insurance policy covers those activities,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “Having a travel insurance policy offering the right protection can prevent an injury from turning into a significant financial loss.”

Most travel insurance policies will not cover activities like skydiving, bungee jumping or mountaineering. If travelers plan on taking part in those activities, they will want to buy a travel insurance policy that offers the Hazardous Sports benefit. This covers someone to be evacuated to a hospital and receive medical treatment if injured during an extreme sport. “Without Hazardous Sports coverage, a travel insurance provider will deny the claim, leaving the traveler responsible for all medical bills,” advises Byrne.

Depending on the travel insurance policy and the type of activity, some travelers may not need to buy the hazardous sports benefit. “Less extreme activities like hiking, rafting and horseback riding are typically covered under most standard travel insurance policies,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Travelers should also be aware that if they are planning to participate in a sporting competition, coverage will most likely not be available. This can include anyone from kids playing in a weekend soccer tournament to a professional athlete. “Even though the sporting event may not be considered a hazardous sports, most travel insurance providers will not cover these athletes,” says Byrne.

It’s important to remember not all travel insurance providers consider every adventure sport to be hazardous. For example, Travel Insured International, HTH Worldwide and CSA Travel Protection don’t consider scuba diving a hazardous sport, but Seven Corners does. In the event hazardous sports coverage is needed, policies are available from Travel Guard, Travelex, IMG, HCC Medical Insurance Services and Seven Corners.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Hazardous Sports Coverage for Your Upcoming Ski Trip, Warns Squaremouth

Layoffs Preventing You From Traveling? How Travel Insurance Can Help, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:24:05 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL September 16, 2011 – The recent layoffs have many travelers turning to their travel insurance to see what protection they might have. “If someone is laid off, travel insurance gives them the option to cancel their trip and receive reimbursement, instead of taking a trip they may not be able to afford anymore,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance.

Although many travel insurance policies offer this coverage, it’s important to read the fine print. “Some travel insurance policies require you to be employed with the same company anywhere from one to five years to qualify for a refund, while others restrict coverage to full-time employees,” says Byrne.

Travelers wondering if their policy offers this coverage should look under the trip cancellation benefit for keywords, such as employment layoff or job termination.

Squaremouth warns travelers not to confuse employment layoff coverage with the benefit cancel for work reasons. Cancel for work reasons can cover someone if they are called back to work suddenly, if their company merges, if they have to relocate or if work is affected by fire, flood or other natural disaster. This benefit is an upgrade in many travel insurance policies, however, doesn’t apply if you lose your job, whereas most standard cancellation coverage does.

“If travelers don’t know the differences between the two, they could wind up paying extra for coverage that was already included,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Travelers can purchase layoff coverage anytime before traveling, however, if someone has already been laid off, coverage will not be available. The layoff benefit is available in policies from CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert, HTH Worldwide, iTravelInsured, MH Ross, Seven Corners, Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Services, Travel Insured International, Travelex, TravelSafe and USA Assist.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Money Saving Tips When Buying Travel Insurance, Advises Squaremouth

Forbes September 13, 2011 – Is Travel Insurance Worth The Price?

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:27:46 +0000

…If you’d rather buy your own policy, several websites make it easy to comparison shop: Squaremouth, InsureMyTrip and QuoteWright. Squaremouth even excerpts relevant policy provisions. These sites, as well as those hosted by the insurance companies, are designed so you can buy online.

See the full article from Forbes at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2011/09/13/is-travel-insurance-worth-the-price/3/

Why a $200 Travel Insurance Policy Is Better Than a $500 Policy, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:59:50 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL September 10, 2011 – The recent increase of hurricane activity has many travelers inquiring about travel insurance. The most common question is why some travel insurance plans are less expensive but offer more benefits. The answer is simple, they hit the “sweet spot.” Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, explains that the situation is common among travel insurance policies and simply means someone has qualified for the best rate.

“Don’t be concerned that the travel insurance policy is inferior simply because of it’s low price,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Since travel insurance providers all have an ideal customer in mind, each product is aimed at a different demographic.This explains why some plans are less expensive but offer better benefits.

“Although the ideal customer will vary from one insurer to the next, travelers who look for their sweet spot can typically find significant savings,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

For example, someone buying a travel insurance policy close to the departure date should look for plans from CSA Travel Protection. Since CSA is the only travel insurance provider that changes the cost of their policies the closer someone is to traveling, these policies can be a better value one month before the trip versus one year before the trip.

Other travel insurance providers determine their ideal customer based on the traveler’s age, trip length and trip cost. Travelex Insurance Services, Travel Insured International and Travel Guard offer policies that cover kids for free. “Since traveling with the whole family can get expensive, it’s wise for travelers to be aware of these money saving opportunities,” says Byrne.

It is also common for travel insurance providers to target students studying abroad. iTravelInsured offers the Student Travel policy that is competitively price for someone in their 20s, however, it typically has less medical and medical evacuation coverage than many other travel insurance policies.

Whether a travel insurance policy is $200 or $500, it’s important to remember that the price of the policy does not determine the quality of coverage or service. Compare policies, if a less expensive policy has the same coverage as a more expensive policy, it’s the sweet spot.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Top Three Misconceptions Travelers Have When Buying Travel Insurance, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:49:28 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL August 31, 2011 – Torn between buying a primary or secondary medical travel insurance plan? According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, many travelers are faced with the same issue. “Primary and secondary medical coverage causes much confusion among travelers purchasing travel insurance,” explains Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “Understanding the difference between the two gives travelers the confidence to choose the best plan for the best value.”

Be prepared to pay up-front
Many travelers misunderstand the meaning of primary and secondary medical coverage. Some incorrectly assume by purchasing a primary plan, the travel insurance provider will automatically pay up-front for any medical expenses while traveling.

“Many travel insurance companies have the ability to arrange payment with medical providers overseas, but it is the treating facility’s decision as to whether or not they wish to work with you. Be prepared to pay for your medical care upfront, and file a claim for reimbursement,” warns Suzanne Munson, Marketing Manager at Seven Corners, a travel insurance provider.

It’s important to understand that primary and secondary refers to the order in which a travel insurance claim can be filed with the travel insurance provider. Primary plans allow claims to be filed directly with the travel insurance provider, eliminating any involvement of a traveler’s health insurance company, while secondary plans require filing the claim with any existing insurance before filing with the travel insurance provider.

Medicare doesn’t cover overseas
Since medicare doesn’t provide coverage overseas, many travelers assume they can only buy a travel insurance policy with primary medical coverage. “Understanding they have the choice between primary or secondary medical coverage can prevent them from over spending on policies that offer less coverage,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

“In most cases, travelers will not see a difference in the payment process or coverage when buying a secondary medical plan versus a primary one,” explains Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection.

Although a secondary travel insurance plan can require more paperwork during the claims process, travelers usually find more coverage in secondary plans for the same value as a primary plan. However, if someone wants the convenience of only filing with one insurance company, Squaremouth recommends buying a primary travel insurance plan. Primary plans are available from travel insurance providers including Travel Guard, Travel Insured International, Travelex Insurance Services and USA Assist.

If a traveler’s health insurance will cover them overseas, Squaremouth recommends understating how much coverage is available. “If someone has a large deductible with their primary health care, they can purchase a secondary travel insurance plan to pick up any deductibles or out of pocket expenses,” says Byrne. “Secondary travel insurance plans are available with smaller amounts of medical and medical evacuation for this reason.”

Secondary Becomes Primary
In the event someone doesn’t have any health insurance, Squaremouth encourages them to look for travel insurance policies with the best coverage for the lowest price, regardless of primary or secondary coverage. Just like travelers with medicare, someone without primary health insurance has the option to choose between the two types of coverage.

“A secondary plan means that if no other coverage is available, the secondary plan becomes primary,” explains Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President of iTravelInsured, a travel insurance provider.

Whether a traveler decides to buy a primary or secondary medical travel insurance plan, it’s important to remember that travel insurance is “gap” coverage. “It was designed to fill in areas where a traveler may not have coverage, or their coverage is subject to deductibles, co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses,” says Dismore. Choosing secondary coverage is a good way to save money on the premium without sacrificing a lot of coverage.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

USA Today August 26, 2011 – Strategies for storm-tossed travelers

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:21:41 +0000

As Hurricane Irene continues to churn northward toward an expected Saturday landfall along the North Carolina coast, the massive storm is scrapping weekend beach plans and impacting travelers thousands of miles away.

…Check your insurance policy. According to Chris Harvey of the travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, “if a traveler’s home is rendered uninhabitable by a hurricane, their travel insurance policy may cover them to cancel their trip or come home early and receive reimbursement.” Of course, he adds, you would have had to purchase the policy before Aug. 22, when Irene was named a tropical storm.

See the full article from the USA Today: http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/08/travel-tips-hurricane-irene-flights-insurance-cancellations-hotels/416862/1

New York Times August 25, 2011 – Traveler Insurance and the Hurricane

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:18:00 +0000

…“If a traveler’s home is rendered uninhabitable by a hurricane, their travel insurance policy may cover them to cancel their trip or come home early and receive reimbursement,” Chris Harvey, the chief executive of Squaremouth, a Web site that allows vacationers to comparison shop for travel insurance, said in a statement. Some policies also include the cost for travelers to fly back home.

Travelers who do not already have travel insurance will not be able to purchase it in preparation for Irene. “Since Irene became a tropical storm on Aug. 22, only policies purchased before that date will provide coverage for the storm,” Sarah Byrne, a marketing manager at Squaremouth, wrote in the release.

See the full article from the New York Times: http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/traveler-insurance-and-the-hurricane/

Travel Insurance Advice for Travelers Whose Homes Could be Affected by Hurricane Irene, From Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:45:57 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL August 25, 2011 – Already on vacation or about to leave? With hurricane Irene heading towards the northeast, homeowners are paying close attention to where the storm will hit. “A little known benefit in most travel insurance policies could really make a difference for those travelers,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “If a traveler’s home is rendered uninhabitable by a hurricane, their travel insurance policy may cover them to cancel their trip or come home early and receive reimbursement.”

Although many travelers would cut a trip short if they find out something bad happened to their home, almost none would make a travel insurance claim because they didn’t know they could. Having the option the file a claim would give travelers the chance to get back unused trip expenses, as well as the costs of flights to get home.

“This provides extra protection and peace of mind that unforeseen expenses are covered not just if something happens on the trip, but also at home while they are away,” says Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection.

Travelers should remember, in order for coverage to be effective, all travel insurance policies must be purchased before a hurricane is named. “Since Irene became a tropical storm on August 22, only policies purchased before that date will provide coverage for the storm,” explains Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

Another limitation to take into account is a travel insurance policy cannot be cancelled due to “fear” of something bad happening. If someone wants the choice to cancel without providing a reason, Squaremouth recommends finding a policy that offers the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel the trip without explanation, and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost, however, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Five Errors You’re Probably Making When Buying Travel Insurance, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:59:13 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL August 22, 2011 – Understanding the critical mistakes many travelers make while purchasing travel insurance can prevent over spending and over insuring. “Many people over insure without even knowing,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “To avoid it, travelers should make themselves aware of what coverage they already have and what coverage they need to buy.”

Cancel for Any Reason
According to Squaremouth, cancel for any reason is one travel insurance benefit most travelers do not need. Cancel for any reason allows someone to cancel without explanation, benefiting those who must cancel a trip for a non-covered reason. Since trip cancellation covers travelers to cancel their trip and receive reimbursement in the event of illness, injury, inclement weather or terrorism, Squaremouth usually does not recommend upgrading a travel insurance policy to include the benefit.

“In almost all cases, people want to take their trip, and the reasons they would need to cancel are already covered under trip cancellation,” explains Byrne.

Before purchasing a travel insurance policy, travelers should review the covered reasons under the trip cancellation benefit. If a potential reason for cancelling is not listed, they should then consider upgrading the travel insurance policy to include cancel for any reason.

Too Much Evacuation Coverage
Most travelers are unaware of how much medical evacuation coverage is needed while traveling. Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for visiting Europe, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Buying From the Travel Supplier
Buying travel insurance from your airline, cruise line or tour company could result in purchasing a travel insurance policy for a higher premium with lower benefits. This is a common mistake many travelers make and can be the result of the lack of travel insurance options provided by the travel supplier. Squaremouth recommends searching for travel insurance on a comparison engine. This will provide more options with better travel insurance policies for less money.

Rental Car Coverage
Since many car insurance companies and credit card providers offer protection while driving a rental car, most travelers do not need to buy travel insurance to cover a rental car. Car insurance companies, including State Farm, Allstate and Progressive offer protection, however, not all policies will cover “loss of use” fees if the rental car requires repairs. Most American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards provide a collision damage waiver, but travelers must purchase the rental car on the card for coverage to be available.

Frequent Flier Miles
Since travel insurance only lets travelers recoup non-refundable cash losses, travelers should not include intangibles like frequent flier miles.

“Adding those values to a travel insurance policy will increase the cost of your premium without adding additional coverage,” warns Byrne.

Some travel insurance policies, however, will reimburse the cost of a reissue fee, as well as fees to re-bank the miles.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Check Before Buying Travel Insurance For Rental Cars – Most Travelers Are Already Covered, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:42:19 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL August 12, 2011 – Buying travel insurance to cover a rental car is an additional expense that many can avoid. Before making a purchase, travelers should first check with their car insurance and credit card provider to see if coverage is available. “Many travelers buy additional coverage because they don’t know they already have protection,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “Checking your options first could save you money and prevent over insuring.”

When traveling within the U.S., many rental car drivers do not need to buy additional rental car insurance. Many car insurance plans from companies including State Farm, Allstate and Progressive, offer their policy holders protection when driving a rental car. However, additional coverage may be needed to cover “loss of use” charges if the rental car requires repairs.

Travelers should also check what coverage is available through their credit card company. American Express, MasterCard and Visa offer rental car coverage with many of their cards, however, it’s important to remember that the benefit is only available if travelers pay for the rental car on the card.

If travelers do not have the option to receive coverage through their car insurance or credit card provider, rental car insurance is available with many travel insurance plans. Most plans range from $25,000 to $50,000 in rental car coverage and will also include cancellation, interruption, medical and medical evacuation. “Since the amount of rental car coverage can vary from one policy to the next, its important for travelers to read the fine print,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

For example, Travel Guard offers primary coverage with a $250 deductible, while CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide offer primary rental car insurance without a deductible.

“Since CSA provides primary coverage for rental car damage, travelers in most instances never need to inform their car insurance company that a problem occurred, saving them time, frustration and potential rate increases,” explains Kathy Townend, CSA Travel Protection’s Marketing Manager.

Other plans from Seven Corners, Travelex and Travel Insured offer secondary rental car coverage, yet travelers are required to first collect from any existing insurance they may have before the travel insurance will pay a claim.

If a comprehensive travel insurance plan is not needed, Travel Guard and American Express both offer alternatives. Travel Guard offers only rental car collision insurance for $7 a day, and American Express offers primary car rental insurance to non-card members for $9 a day.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Travel Insurance Is Tampa Bay’s 9th Fastest-Growing Company

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:11:19 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL August 2, 2011 – Squaremouth Inc., a leading comparison website for travel insurance, has been recognized with the Fast 50 Award as Tampa Bay’s 9th fastest-growing company.

Each year, the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Fast 50 Awards recognizes the 50 fastest-growing, privately held companies across all industries including real estate, technology, health care and retail. Companies were ranked based on their revenue growth over the three year period between 2008 and 2010. Squaremouth shined through with a revenue growth of 217 percent for those three years.

According to Squaremouth’s chief executive Chris Harvey, the success of Squaremouth is due to their continual drive to always make customer service their number one priority. “One of our core values is to down-sell. Our customer service representatives will go above and beyond to help customers find the best plan that fits their needs for the cheapest price,” says Harvey.

Squaremouth recently launched a new version of their website that took several years to build from the ground up. “The main goal for creating the new version of our website was to improve the user experience by developing a more modern interface design. Our architecture changes also allow us to be more flexible to accommodate the constantly changing travel insurance market,” says Matt Outten, CIO of Squaremouth.

According to the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, there are currently over 87,800 businesses in the Tampa Bay area. “We are proud to be recognized as the ninth fastest-growing company in Tampa Bay over the past three years,” says Harvey.

Squaremouth will be relocating its headquarters from St. Pete Beach to downtown St. Petersburg this fall. PowerChord, Inc., a fellow Fast 50 list maker, will also be joining Squaremouth in the newly renovated City Center St. Petersburg.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal profiled Squaremouth focusing on the company’s impressive growth and unique style. The article can be found here: Tampa Bay Business Journal Profiles Squaremouth

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

How Travel Insurance Covers Terrorism, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:09:09 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL July 27, 2011 – Given the recent terror alert, Americans traveling overseas should take the time to understand how travel insurance can protect them against terrorism, advises Squaremouth.com, a comparison site for travel insurance. “Although most travel insurance plans offer some form of terrorism related coverage, the degree of protection varies from one policy to the next,” advises Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “While looking for a travel insurance policy, travelers should consider whether they are content with only being able to cancel a trip if a terrorist attack takes place, or if they want the option to cancel if they are afraid an attack could happen.”

“U.S. Citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take the appropriate steps to increase their security awareness,” advises the U.S. Department of State. They believe the enhanced potential for anti-American violence is directly related to the death of Osama Bin Laden last May.

Policies that specifically mention terrorism will usually reimburse non-refundable trip costs if a traveler cancels or interrupts a trip because of an attack. In most cases though, a travel insurance policy would have to be purchased within two weeks of the first trip payment for coverage to be available.

If travelers want the option to cancel a trip because of a threat, travelers will need to purchase a travel insurance policy that includes the benefit Cancel for Any Reason. Cancel for Any Reason is an upgrade option that is available with many policies and provides the traveler with the ability to cancel the trip without an explanation and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost.

In addition to cancellation and interruption coverage, some policies provide coverage for Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation. “Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation is specifically designed to evacuate a traveler from a place of danger to a nearby place of safety,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. The benefit is available in policies provided by Travel Insured International, MH Ross and TravelSafe.

Travelers are also advised by the U.S. Department of State to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. The program allows the U.S. Embassy to easily contact travelers in the event of an emergency, as well as assist travelers by sending important safety and security announcements.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

How Much Medical Evacuation Is Enough, Asks Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:08:53 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL July 17, 2011 – Having too little medical evacuation coverage during a trip can turn a medical emergency into a significant financial loss. Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the traveler’s destination. “Since the costs to medically transport someone can increase the further away they are from their home, understanding how much medical evacuation is necessary could alleviate many potential financial burdens,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

So how much medical evacuation is enough? Squaremouth recommends between $50,000 and $250,000 of medical evacuation insurance. The following recommendations are based off the average medical evacuation costs from some of the travel insurance providers available on Squaremouth.com. If an American is traveling within the U.S., $50,000 in medical evacuation should be enough protection, however, if they are traveling to the Caribbean or Europe, they should purchase a policy with at least $100,000 in medical evacuation. Travelers visiting Asia, Africa or the Pacific Islands are recommended to purchase a policy with at least $250,000 in medical evacuation. The more remote the location, or the further away a traveler is from adequate medical facilities, the more medical evacuation may be needed.

“Some policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Travelers who do not have enough medical evacuation coverage not only risk a financial crisis, but pose a threat to their well-being. “If you incured an injury or illness in an area with inadequate facilities, you could be putting your life on the line. What if the doctors did not have access to appropriate equipment which would determine the extent of your injuries? Our advice is to buy a policy with medical evacuation, and don’t take the risk,” warns Suzanne Munson, Director of Marketing at Seven Corners, a travel insurance provider.

Although medical evacuation pays for the costs to medically transport a traveler, it is not to be confused with search and rescue. In all but rare cases, local emergency services and the coast guard of the country where the person is injured are responsible for first response. “Most people mistakenly believe medical evacuation insurance will pluck injured hikers off of mountainsides or heart attack victims off cruise ships at sea,” says Harvey. For this reason, it’s important to first dial 9-1-1 or the local equivalent in an emergency, followed by the insurance provider’s emergency assistance number.

Medical evacuation can be purchased as part of a package of benefits within a travel insurance policy, however, travelers are able to purchase policies that only offer medical evacuation. MedjetAssist, Air Ambulance and Global Rescue are a few companies that offer this type of service.

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

Tampa Bay Business Journal March 18, 2011 – Travel insurance field open for Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:45:50 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH — News of earthquakes and tsunamis, political uprisings and volcanoes spewing ash remind the traveler that no vacation is guaranteed.

As unexpected world events have occurred, Squaremouth over the past decade has tapped into rising concerns about planning for travel.

Founder Chris Harvey worked in insurance systems in the United Kingdom before taking a job at a software house in the United States in 1998. Sensing opportunity in travel insurance, in 2001 Harvey launched Squaremouth from home offices with one employee. A third employee joined the company in late 2004.

Harvey’s starting costs were relatively low. Salaries were the greatest expense. He covered costs with a $250,000 line of credit against his house.

The staff spent two years writing the first website, which launched in 2003 as Quotetravelinsurance.com. While the website brought in a fair amount of traffic and positive feedback, it did not generate as many return visitors as Harvey would have liked.

“We quizzed a lot of people who would find us,” Harvey said. “They were finding us on Google but had no idea who we were.”

Judging the original name too generic, Harvey in 2005 changed the company’s name to Squaremouth. The new name, inspired by the way his baby son had a rectangle mouth when he cried, was meant to be splashy and memorable. Plus, the Internet domain names for the United States and countries across Europe were available.

“Squaremouth was wide open,” Harvey said. “Nobody even was remotely close to it, so we just jumped on it and grabbed it.”

The name change required a re-launch of the website, which set business back in 2006, although the company broke even in 2007.

“We were close to the edge,” Harvey said. “When we changed our name we literally threw away all our old Google search engine rankings and started again.”

Knowing online is right

Comparing insurance policies can be easier online than at a desk in front of an agent, Harvey said.

“Insurance is a wonderful thing to sell over the Web,” he said. “It’s one of the few things that’s better sold over the Web.”

While travel insurance is more common in the United Kingdom, its market is largely untapped in the United States. One reason, Harvey said, is Americans are more likely to travel domestically, and a smaller percentage of Americans have passports.

But Americans are becoming more aware of travel insurance.

The travel insurance industry is relatively new and still growing, said Linda Kundell, a spokeswoman for U.S. Travel Insurance Association, a travel insurance industry association based in Washington.

USTIA studies show people buy travel insurance to protect their investment against unforeseen circumstances, which could include illness, accident, delays, lack of budget due to job loss or the need for medical care overseas. In addition, news of world events can affect the purchase of travel insurance.

“It’s a dynamic industry, always changing to adapt to current conditions,” she said.

Physical space matters

Growing consistently since 2007, Squaremouth now has 11 full-time employees and currently is hiring.

The firm moved into its first office on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach in 2008. After quickly outgrowing the first office, the firm in 2009 moved to 2,000-square-feet offices in the Dolphin Village Shopping Center. The offices are conveniently located across the street from the beach and reasonably priced. Plus there is room to expand.

Harvey is in talks with his landlords to expand into nearby office space, roughly doubling his square footage.

Most of the firm’s IT functions occur in an office in Fort Wayne, Ind., where four employees are based. The firm’s chief information officer and Harvey’s business partner, Matt Outten, relocated to Indiana for personal reasons in 2004.

The St. Pete Beach office, meanwhile, handles content management, testing, quality assurance and customer service, among other functions.

The two offices meet regularly via videoconferencing.

The St. Pete Beach office has a pool table, a nap area and beer on tap. Harvey encourages employees to wear casual clothes.

Despite the laid-back approach to management, Harvey always has his eyes on detail and aims to have a highly trained, hardworking staff.

In the beginning, the company invested in pay per click advertising online, which brought in its first round of customers. Now the company sustains business through repeat customers, mentions in guidebooks and the press, and referrals.

“We want to build a customer for life,” he said.

Squaremouth is currently at work on a new version of the website, featuring real time sales information, transparent prices and a review section, slated to launch this month.

This article is reproduced from the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The original article can be found here: http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/print-edition/2011/03/18/travel-insurance-field-open.html?page=all