TRAVEL and HEALTH

Understand Travel Insurance Policy Language?

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Aren't all travel insurance plans basically the same?
No. When you read travel insurance policy language, remember that as with any legal document, the definition of the terms is what governs the working of the policy (including payment of the claim). I create hypothetical travel scenarios for training purposes. This includes contacting our travel insurance suppliers' claims departments to see how they handle a given scenario.
A common concern of travelers are Pre-Existing Medical Conditions. In some cases, you can cancel, interrupt your trip or receive medical treatment if you (or a non-traveling family member) has a pre-existing condition. It has to do with the policy's wording.
All travel insurance excludes claims due to pre-existing medical conditions. Some travel insurance plans will waive the pre-existing condition exclusion if you get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or 21 days after your first trip payment date (ie - before the end of these 10, 14 or 21 days).
Any payment on your trip is considered the first payment. This includes the tax you pay when you redeem frequent flyer tickets, refundable deposits or even a trip planning consultation fee if that fee is later credited toward your trip costs.
You'll protect yourself if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip because of that pre-existing medical condition. There are three primary rules to keep in mind:
You have to insure your trip's full prepaid, non-refundable cost and
The person with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance and
You must get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or 21 days after your first trip payment date.
You can cancel or interrupt your trip or receive medical treatment even if you have a pre-existing condition - if you follow these rules.
This seems simple enough, doesn't it?
Yes. Except there are companies that interpret this wording slightly different from what you expect. Be on the lookout for a clause in policies that states, "General exclusions include any expected or foreseeable events".
What this means to you is this: If you buy a travel insurance policy that includes the words "General exclusions include any expected or foreseeable events", here's what you need to do:
Ask if buying the policy in the Waiver Period really does waive this general exclusionand
Are there other conditions (ie - medically stable or covering the full trip cost) that have to be satisfied
No SurprisesIf you are told, "No, that wouldn't be covered because it's not unforeseen", I strongly suggest you steer clear of those companies - you don't want an unexpected surprise.
We do not offer policies from companies that play this semantics game. Like you, I want to be sure a travel insurance plan will work just like I expected it to.

Steven Dasseos is the founder and CEO of TripInsuranceStore.com. You can compare reputable travel insurance plans at this website. Contact Steve Dasseos here.

Finding the Right Travel Nursing Placement Agency

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Travel nursing is becoming one of our nation's fastest growing professions, and it's no surprise. If you love seeing new places and enjoy exciting new experiences that evoke the feeling of taking an extended vacation, then the career of a traveling nurse might be just what the doctor ordered! Travel nursing enables many people to stay on vacation for two to six months in free luxury accommodations while earning high hourly wages at the same time.
Yet despite all these advantages, many nurses describe to me that they've shied away from the traveling profession. Why? Because bad experiences with placement agencies have left them with nothing but a negative impression. They've been underpaid or lacked benefits, and I can't tell you how many nurses have complained to me about inadequate housing or recruiters who were unkind, uncaring, and just plain unavailable. The sad result is that nurses end up jumping from one agency to the next, always in search of the perfect package that's never there.
In this light, choosing the right staffing agency requires a nurse to consider everything that is offered. Some nurses emphasize pay as their top priority. Others require an excellent benefits package. Many travel RNs are location-specific and want to experience the lifestyle in the country's hot spots. Career flexibility is often a pivotal factor, along with customer service. The bottom line is, your agency choice depends largely upon one of the four following criteria.
SALARY
No question about it, there are some agencies that offer more money than others. So the first thing to remember is that agencies may base salaries upon things like location availability, need-to-fill assignments, and cost of living.
Some agencies must offer noticeably higher rates if they expect to fill certain assignments where nurse-to-patient ratios are very low, or where a facility has extreme patient needs. If you're a nurse who is attracted by very high dollars, be alert for a potentially desperate situation you might be entering, and the workload it could bring. You may make more money, but you'll earn every dollar and more.
Location also factors into salary. The California bay area and many larger east coast cities definitely offer more lucrative pay rates. It's also much more expensive to live in those places, so recognize the relationship that exists between salary dollars and cost of living. I've seen nurses return from Hawaii saying they had a great vacation and made a lot of friends-but their purses were lighter, not heavier from the experience. You might get less money in an exotic location and come back with more money from a not-so-exotic location. My point is, your criteria will determine your priorities.
BENEFITS
What some companies may lack in salary, they make up for with benefits. Many agencies offer benefits programs that revolve around monetary bonuses or discounted luxury housing; and I have even observed a trend with several newer companies that offer entirely free housing to all their nurses. Take note, however, that those agencies may not ante up the really high salaries. It's a trade-off, so they compensate you with benefits to save you daily, monthly, and annual expenses. Every nurse should be aware of what benefits they need the most, and then ask their recruiters to assist in developing a package that is tailored to their individual needs.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
To many traveling nurses, customer service and aid are the most important attributes a placement agency possesses. If you called ten agencies and only talked with one live recruiter, it's probably best to narrow it down to the agency where individual placement specialists were easily available. After all, if you're ready to proceed with a new assignment you'll want an agency that can make it happen fast and has recruiters available who already understand your criteria. In fact, your criteria may change from one assignment to another, so customer service is paramount. Determine what you want and then find out which agencies can make it happen.

FEATURED LOCATIONS AND HOT SPOTS
While for some nurses, salary, benefits, and career flexibility might be the number-one interest, many others just want the obvious-to travel and see the world. If you're an adventurer who cares more about the travel experience than the money, then you'll need an agency that can offer you the locations you want.
Not every agency can send you just anywhere. Figure out where you want to go, and then call around to discover who can send you there.
A travel nursing career is absolutely one of the best, most rewarding choices any nurse can make, but it's important to select a company who will partner with you every step of the way. Before you jump in, do your homework and research all the best placement agencies. Finding the agency that fits your unique wants and needs will drastically increase your chances of success and happiness in your career.

Janet Fikany is a "Placement Diva" for HealthCare Staffing Network. For travel nursing advice, please visit HSN online at http://www.hcstaffingnetwork.com, or call Janet toll free at 1-877-385-3097.

What is Travel Insurance?

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:09:00 +0000

Travel Insurance is designed to protect your health, belongings, and your financial investment in your trip. It provides peace of mind for you and your family while on your vacation.
If you are travelling abroad, be it on business or pleasure it is a good idea to consider taking out travel insurance. Whilst it is not compulsory, most travel companies and tour operators usually insist on some form of insurance as a stipulation of their holiday product.
Travel insurance is an insurance product specifically designed to cover you when travelling abroad. We all think about the small things when considering whether to purchase travel insurance, such as loss of money or having luggage stolen. However there are many other factors to consider such as illness & accidents which can also be covered by travel insurance.
Travel insurance is designed to protect and cover against the possible risks you may encounter when travelling abroad. It is of crucial importance if you are travelling abroad, especially if you are likely to pay for any medical expenses that may arise. Other risks include the loss or theft of possessions, the cost of cancellations or claims made against you.
Travel insurance is designed to reimburse non-refundable trip deposits and payments, medical expenses, provide for emergency evacuation or repatriation, cover your personal belongings, baggage and travel delays.
The main reason you need travel insurance is that when you travel to different countries the healthcare services, among other things, can be very different. Sometimes you never know what to expect when you travel abroad, and depending on the particular country, services offered can vary greatly. You have to be prepared to handle any situation that might arise. If you happen to be hurt or become ill in a country that has expensive health care you could find yourself with a bill you did not expect and probably cannot afford to pay. If you are in this kind of trouble travel insurance fits the bill and ensures that you receive the treatment you need.
Travel insurance can cover the following expenses:
Non refundable fees & lost deposits due to cancellation of your trip
Worldwide sickness or accident medical expenses
Travel and Baggage Delays
Damage to or loss of luggage and personal belongings
Loss of Travel Documents
Additional expenses caused by health problems
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
24 hour Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services
As in all insurance market places, there are many different providers of travel insurance. Type of cover and options will vary according to the company and policy. There are different types of travel insurance policies which in the main can be annual policies or single trip policies. There also different levels of cover available where different activities such as skiing are covered. There are also regional differences such as Worldwide or European cover.
When choosing a travel insurance policy you will need to make a judgement between the level of coverage you require and the cost of the policy. Make sure your policy covers most of the following: Personal Belongings & Money, Personal Accident, Medical Expenses, Personal Liability and Legal Expenses.
But remember like all other forms of insurance look around and check out the options as you can save yourself a great deal of money.
You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:
About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
In The News:

Inside mud spa :Skin Disease Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:10:00 +0000

original source by www.goldenpai.com and www.pooklon.com

Have you ladles been frightened that one morning when you looked into the mirror and you saw gloomy, dried and rough face instead of smooth and tender complexion? If so, it's time for you to take better care of your face.Taking care of your complexion is must for you, especially ladies, in order to maintain a smooth, healthy and young look as you could.
One way to keep such look on your face is using the mud, Don't be frightened. It's the mud full of useful minerals from different natural sources which is believed to help vitalizing the facial skin there are only few places in the world where we can find such qualified mud, from the Dead Sea and the mud from volcano. Mud mask treatment can be performed in several ways, all of which is beneficial to the face. Minerals contained in the mud are:Calcium - to keep balancing the facial skin and prevent moisture lossChloride - to control facial moisture at upper skin level Potassium - to help nourishing the skin Magnesium - to help building up and repair the degenerated cellsSodium - to stimulate the skin changes to be more efficientBesides, mud mask contains mineral water and other useful ingredient, which help in deep penetrationTo lower level of the skin. Thus, mud mask can deeply clean the facial skin and some mineral contained helps remove the dead cells leaving clean and vital looking face after use. Mud can also stimulate blood circulation and relax the facial muscles. Another property of mud mask is the ability to cure some kind of skin disease.

After 15 - 20 minutes masking the face with mud, wash the face thoroughly with water. The extra oil and impurities should be removed leaving the clean and fresh feeling on your face. Oxygen and nutrients can effectively work through the facial skin because the circulation is stimulated.Different person has different type of skin. For oily skin, mud masking should be done 3 time per week. Normal skin can mask the face with mud twice a week, Dry skin should not mask the face with mud more than once a week.
Best for you face is when you first try the mud mask. You should start with light and thin mask to allow your face to adjust to the mud, Later on, you can put normal amount of mud on. Moisturizing cream should be used after washing the mud mask from your face to increase the skin moisture and help balancing the ski. Above all is to have enough exercise, complete diet and proper rest, which will result in everlasting vital complexion and best for you.

Pooklon reviews

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:24:00 +0000

Phuklon Country
ClubHealth Mud Spa

by Pooklon.com

In 1995, a healthy mud source was discoveredat Pong Dued Mae Sa Nga or the present namePooklon by a group of French and Thai geologicalresearchers who went sightseeing in Mae Hong Son, Thailand ์ A stream of hot mineral water was found rising in the middle of rice field flowing into a small creek. Many people recoveredfrom illness and pain when soaked in the warm water in the creek.

In 1996, the mud from the hot spring was sampled and laboratory provedfor minerals at Thermalium Luxeuil Laboratorie in France. It took 4 yearsto find out the useful minerals and natural substances. In 1999, the results from the laboratory showed that the mineralcontents of the mud are good for the skin and blood circulation.There are some minerals that are found in the Dead Sea mud and volcano lava mud. Being rare minerals, they can be found only at a few places on earth. The survey renewed with satellite technology, heavy machinery and ground operation from Australia. In 2000, Pooklon was registered as Phu klon Country Club Limited Partnership with Baht 1,000,000 registered capital to develop the location to be one of the amazing tourist attractions of Mae Hong Son and Thailand.

Original source http://www.pooklon.com/

The Legend Villas: Feels Like Home

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:03:00 +0000

by: Guest

Despite the hustle and bustle in the metropolitan, a weekend that lets the stresses of city life fade away is possible. Guests no longer have to go out of town to unwind. Just in the hub of Mandaluyong City lies

The Legend Villas, an elegant hotel that offers an accommodation experience that is truly relaxing just like home.

It takes pride to being a hotel that is 100% Filipino owned, letting the guests enjoy the warmth and hospitality that is beyond compare. That is why behind sophistication, The Legend Villas has 125 guest rooms that provide visitors a laid-back ambiance coupled with accommodating staff.

The Legend Villas has room facilities, hotel amenities and services that add up to create just the right mix of luxury, ease and convenience for a pleasant stay.
Its stylish guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning units, cable television, private toilet and bath, telephone, bedside control panel, and mini bar. Suites accommodation has living and dining area, kitchenette and Jacuzzi for Premier Suites. Also, guests can experience absolute convenience with the hotelsโ€ 24-hour room service. Aside from these, massage services, swimming pool, and outdoor Jacuzzi are also available.

A home-like lodging will not be complete without gastronomic delight. Dining at The Legend Villasโ€ Lola Maria Coffee Shop is a unique experience as if gives everyone a taste of famous and delectable Filipino dishes from festive to regional home-style cooked meals proudly made by top-notch Filipino chefs. Aside from elegance and lavishness, everyone can experience a true comfort that feels like home exclusively at The Legend Villas. Undoubtedly, this quality yet affordable hotel in Mandaluyong City is admired for its unsurpassed accommodation, features, and services.

Should you wish to learn more about The Legend Villas and to get best rates online, feel free to log on to http://www.legendvillas.com.ph.

Top 5 Cities to see during a Holiday in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:10:00 +0000

Top 5 Cities to see during a Holiday in Thailand

By: Stuart CheeseIn my

capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, one of my jobs is to ensure every client has the best tour possible, so here are my top 5 suggestions for cities to visit in Thailand during your holiday.

1.Bangkok is a fascinating city which has managed to keep it’s ancient eastern traditions whilst embracing the modern progression of the western world. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and offers a host of experiences which include floating markets, modern bars, top of the range shopping, gastronomical delights and ancient temples steeped in the city’s history.The Chao Phraya River separates the city and has a series of canals.

The new ‘Sky train’ railway is something which should be experienced whilst in the city should you fancy avoiding the bustling traffic.One of the largest floating markets is on the outskirts of Bangkok and you’ll greeted by the aromatic smells and the age old tradition of the locals and their way of making a living along the busy canals.There is an array of beautiful and ancient buildings not to be missed whilst in Thailand. Although I did not personally experience all of the nightlife, it was made obvious to me that all of my entertainment needs would be taken care of by all well informed taxi drivers wishing to proudly show off their culture.

2. Phuket is the biggest island attraction that Thailand has to offer. It is the perfect place to retreat to and enjoy a tropical paradise. Although the west coast of the island was almost destroyed by the tsunami of 2004, there is very little evidence remaining to show that it occurred.Not to be missed are:Old Phuket Town.
Chinese immigrants from the 19th century, who were lured in the past by the tin mines, left behind them a host of amazing Sino-Portuguese mansions along Dibu and Thalang roads.Thai Boxing. A personal favourite of mine, this national sport is violent and very fast paced. For regular matches the Saphan Him Stadium in Phuket City is the place to be.

3.Krabi. Krabi Province is in the middle southern part of Thailand. It is situated in the aquamarine water of the Andaman Sea. It is one of the most stunning places in all of Thailand.Krabi Town is situated near the mouth of the Krabi River. The Mangrove forest is something to experience and is a must for avid bird watchers. Krabi Resort is set among a curtain of palm trees on the Ao-PhraNang beach. This is a delightful place to be if you are looking to soak up the natural beauty that surrounds you.

4. Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a city full of traditional heritage that shares its secrets with all who wish to discover them. It is a city with stunning natural beauty. It is amazing to see plants that we have to protect from the frost, growing in their scores, naturally along the roadside.The people of Chiang Mai are a wonder in themselves with exceptional handicraft skills producing magical souvenirs for the endless throng of visitors. Chiang Mai houses the Inthanon Mountain, standing 8,448 feet above sea level making it the highest mountain Thailand.

5.Sukhothai. When visiting Sukhothai the main attractions for the area are Phra Mae Ya Shirne which is located in the Muang District. You will see a long haired figure made of stone that resembles an ancient queen.

There is also a museum and National park as well as monuments of great interest inside the city walls.Article Source: http://www.superfeature.comhttp://www.AdSenseThai.Net

7 Reasons to Take Travel Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (JupiterJan) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:02:00 +0000

7 Reasons to Take Travel Insurance

7 Reasons to Take Travel Insurance By: Evan MossIf you are traveling

abroad this year, it is worth spending some time looking at getting some travel insurance. The provision of cover in the case of disease or accident is extremely important in certain countries, and could save you on a fortune.

As well as medical cover, travel insurance provides cover for numerous other events.And travelling without the correct insurance this summer could leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket if you become ill or have an accident overseas.

Recent figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimate that half of people going on a short break are uninsured compared to 13% of those on longer duration trips. However, accidents can happen in the shortest space of time, and it is much better to be safe than sorry.

If you forget to take out travel insurance for your holiday you could be in line for some expensive bills if you were to fall prey to an accident.The following shows some examples of typical medical costs:Anywhere in the Med should you pick up Gastro-enteritis, you will be liable for: £400 - £600• Two days in a general hospital ward in the Mediterranean would incur costs of: £600• Broken leg in the USA, in total including all hospital bills and other expenses will cost: £10,000• A scheduled flight in business class with a nurse escort from the west coast of the USA will set you back in the region of: £9,000 - £12,000• An air ambulance back to the UK from the Balearics will cost you between: £10,000 - £12,000• Costs for catching bronchitis requiring seven days' in-patient treatment in the Far East will be around £15,000• Catching bronchitis and requiring seven days' in-patient treatment in the USA, will cost even more, at: £20,000Even if travelling within the EU with a European Health Insurance card [which replaced the old E111 form] you may find that you have to pay a large percentage of the cost of treatments which you may have expected to be free. Remember also that the EHIC only provides this limited cover in EU countries, and not ht whole of Europe. The European Health Insurance Card is no substitute for travel insurance, but it is useful to have.So no matter what length your holiday this summer, remember to take out travel insurance.

It's far better to have it there just in case than take a potentially expensive gamble.Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com