Holiday Travel Insurance Advice for Senior Safety and Protection
Seniors Can Avoid Travel Insurance Inadequacies This Holiday Season
Washington, DC, November 01, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Travel Assist Network, a leading provider of travel-related emergency services, is advising seniors to verify that the appropriate travel insurance is in place before traveling this holiday season.
The US Department of State strongly urges Americans, especially seniors, to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation or hospitalization. Most U.S. medical insurance plans will not cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
The number of seniors has grown by 34% since the year 2000*. According to Plunkett's Airline, Hotel & Travel Industry Almanac 2007, of the 849 million domestic and international trips that will be taken this holiday season, over 25% will involve senior travelers.
Travel Assist Network has a growing concern that seniors are still unaware that Medicare does not cover the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation. In addition, it is a widely held belief that premium credit card programs providing medical evacuation is sufficient in the event of a major illness or injury while traveling. Travel Assist Network implores that the fine print be read. Most credit card programs do not guarantee that the cost of medical evacuation will be covered.
Joe Aiello spokesman for Travel Assist Network said, “Regardless of how well these other plans are marketed, the truth is the responsibility of premium travel insurance travel and credit card bonus programs end when you get to the hospital. Although you may believe you will be medically evacuated back to your home hospital of choice, there is no guarantee this will happen and you are left to your own devices. Seniors in particular fall victim to this false sense of security each year.”
Statistics show that an average domestic air ambulance can cost about $50,000. International repatriation can run well over $175,000. The public has become more aware in the last few years of the need for protection as travel and evacuation insurance is the highest sector of growth in the industry since September 11th, 2001**
The Air Rescue Card™ was launched by Travel Assist Network as an affordable membership program that provides 24-hour medical assistance, evacuation, and critical information services to individuals and families domestic and abroad.
Annual memberships to the Air Rescue Card program start at US$235 for individuals. A single 14 day trip costs $75. “It may be slightly more expensive than standard travel insurance but the major difference is that our plan works. It is guaranteed to get you home to your loved ones where you can convalesce in a comfortable and familiar environment and not in a foreign land where health care can be inadequate at best,” Aiello added.
Individuals can sign-up for the program and receive the Air Rescue Card™ directly at http://www.travelassistnetwork.com.
About Travel Assist Network
Travel Assist Network is a global emergency services network providing medical assistance, evacuation, and critical information services to business and leisure travelers anytime, anywhere. As a single, direct and dependable source for life-saving, emergency services, Travel Assist Network provides annual memberships to domestic and international travelers through the Air Rescue Card program. Any person, regardless of age or medical history is covered. Members are evacuated to the hospital of their choice with the support of Travel Assist Network trained medical flight crews and state-of-the-art air ambulance equipment. The Air Rescue Card membership also includes a guaranteed trip home for family members and dependents. For more information, visit http://www.travelassistnetwork.com.
Travel Assist Network™, Air Rescue Card™ and the Travel Assist Network™ logo are trademarks of Travel Assist Network, Inc.
* United States Census Department – 2006 ** 2004 study by MERCK Pharmaceutical
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The US Department of State strongly urges Americans, especially seniors, to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation or hospitalization. Most U.S. medical insurance plans will not cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
The number of seniors has grown by 34% since the year 2000*. According to Plunkett's Airline, Hotel & Travel Industry Almanac 2007, of the 849 million domestic and international trips that will be taken this holiday season, over 25% will involve senior travelers.
Travel Assist Network has a growing concern that seniors are still unaware that Medicare does not cover the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation. In addition, it is a widely held belief that premium credit card programs providing medical evacuation is sufficient in the event of a major illness or injury while traveling. Travel Assist Network implores that the fine print be read. Most credit card programs do not guarantee that the cost of medical evacuation will be covered.
Joe Aiello spokesman for Travel Assist Network said, “Regardless of how well these other plans are marketed, the truth is the responsibility of premium travel insurance travel and credit card bonus programs end when you get to the hospital. Although you may believe you will be medically evacuated back to your home hospital of choice, there is no guarantee this will happen and you are left to your own devices. Seniors in particular fall victim to this false sense of security each year.”
Statistics show that an average domestic air ambulance can cost about $50,000. International repatriation can run well over $175,000. The public has become more aware in the last few years of the need for protection as travel and evacuation insurance is the highest sector of growth in the industry since September 11th, 2001**
The Air Rescue Card™ was launched by Travel Assist Network as an affordable membership program that provides 24-hour medical assistance, evacuation, and critical information services to individuals and families domestic and abroad.
Annual memberships to the Air Rescue Card program start at US$235 for individuals. A single 14 day trip costs $75. “It may be slightly more expensive than standard travel insurance but the major difference is that our plan works. It is guaranteed to get you home to your loved ones where you can convalesce in a comfortable and familiar environment and not in a foreign land where health care can be inadequate at best,” Aiello added.
Individuals can sign-up for the program and receive the Air Rescue Card™ directly at http://www.travelassistnetwork.com.
About Travel Assist Network
Travel Assist Network is a global emergency services network providing medical assistance, evacuation, and critical information services to business and leisure travelers anytime, anywhere. As a single, direct and dependable source for life-saving, emergency services, Travel Assist Network provides annual memberships to domestic and international travelers through the Air Rescue Card program. Any person, regardless of age or medical history is covered. Members are evacuated to the hospital of their choice with the support of Travel Assist Network trained medical flight crews and state-of-the-art air ambulance equipment. The Air Rescue Card membership also includes a guaranteed trip home for family members and dependents. For more information, visit http://www.travelassistnetwork.com.
Travel Assist Network™, Air Rescue Card™ and the Travel Assist Network™ logo are trademarks of Travel Assist Network, Inc.
* United States Census Department – 2006 ** 2004 study by MERCK Pharmaceutical
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Contact
Travel Assist Network
Tim Prero
512-330-0306
www.travelassistnetwork.com
Tim Prero
512-330-0306
www.travelassistnetwork.com
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