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Volcano Travel Insurance Coverage
For US & Canadian Residents
Are you wondering what your options are to getting Travel Insurance that covers you in the wake of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland?
The Travelex Select, Travelex Max, Travelex Insured and TravelSafe plans can cover you for unexpected travel problems related to the Iceland Volcano. |
Want a frank and refreshingly honest explanation of the Iceland Volcano & Travel Insurance coverage? Read Steve Dasseos's post from his Wall Street Journal recommended blog:
The Skinny on the Iceland Volcano and Travel Insurance
We (Steve, Deanna, Becky, Teresa & Mary) completely sympathize with the predicament many people are in because they didn't get trip cancellation insurance before their long-planned upcoming trip to Europe.
By the way, if you are booking a trip since April 14th, you may be eligible for a "Cancel For Any Reason plan" to cover you. Keep in mind that it's "Cancel For Any Reason" and not "Interrupt For Any Reason".
There are two distinct groups of people who are calling us about the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland:
People who were ill-advised weeks or months ago that "you can just wait until your final payment to buy insurance". Thankfully, they are completely understanding.
People who seem to have been too cheap and who would've never have bought travel insurance, but now they want it because they don't want to lose any money.
Steve Vents His Spleen
I like the first group
I am truly sorry about their dilemma. But, I'd rather have people like that call us every day because they are willing to understand how travel insurance works or doesn't work. Here's an example from Paula in Boston on 4/21/10:
Hi. I booked an Exploritas program in Nice, France for 5/4 - 5/17/10 a while ago. I didn't insure it at that time. I have arranged the airfare (Boston-Heathrow-Nice and back) with frequent flyer miles. The trip is worth about $5000.
Please don't laugh too hard, but is there any way to insure this trip at all? I have the option of buying an air ticket (Boston-CDG-Nice and return...a route slightly further from the volcano) but am not sure that would make any difference for insurance purposes. Paula
Just yesterday (4/21/10), three people bought trip insurance from me because I told them the truth that they were not covered for anything related to the Iceland volcano. They all appreciated my honesty and willingness to not sell them a policy with the likeliness that there claim will be denied. They did have other reasons to buy that were covered, too.
I don't like the second group
That second group are the ones that are the hardest to deal with because they can't take "No" for an answer. They are in the same group that calls us in the winter because there's a blizzard headed their way and now they want coverage.
Their attitude seems to be "I want someone else to pay for my mistake". I personally have to be careful not to sound happy when I tell them they won't be covered - it's like buying fire insurance when your house is already on fire.
As much as I want to say, "I'm sorry you were too cheap to buy insurance before this happened", I don't say it because I'm a nice guy.
And, if you are reading this and I'm talking about you, don't beg me to sell you a plan that will cover you because you are promising me that "you & everyone you know will always buy all your travel insurance plans from us". If I had a dollar for every time ... .
I almost forgot, but if you are a lazy travel agent who wants me to fix the wrong insurance advice you gave to your client, don't call me either. I don't believe you when you tell me "you & all your clients will buy all your travel insurance plans from us".
It's no secret that I feel travel agents should not be selling travel insurance. Specialize in selling travel and let the Trained Professional Travel Insurance Experts sell Travel Insurance. I promise I will never sell travel.
I hope this makes sense. If not, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we'll help you figure it all out. By the way, if you don't appreciate my (Steve) directness, that's too bad. My mission isn't to please everyone. I'd rather tell you the truth.
Related Links:
Regarding the Iceland volcano, the only way to be sure that you won't lose money by being forced to cancel your trip is if you have a "Cancel For Any Reason / Change Your Mind" plan. |
Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Plans
You'll find "Cancel For Any Reason" Travel Insurance Plans from CSA, Travelex Select, Travelex Max, Travel Guard, Travel Insured and TravelSafe.
Here are some common trip cancellation reasons that aren't normally covered by Travel insurance, yet are covered by a Cancel For Any Reason Plans. Any of these events (and a lot more) are covered by a Cancel For Any Reason Plan:
You want to cancel your trip because you don't feel safe. For example, Swine Flu is everywhere and you're afraid to go to Wal-Mart. If this happens, you probably won't want to go on your trip either
You change your mind and don't want to go on your trip
You get a new job and your boss won't let you have the time off
You child or grandchild's team which is normally in last place is now in the State Championship Finals
Your already approved vacation comes at a bad time and you know it would be better if you didn't take your trip
Here Are The Purchase Deadlines:
The CSA Freestyle Luxe deadline is no later than 24 hours after your initial trip payment
The Travel Guard deadline is no later than 14 days after the date you made your initial trip payment
The TravelSafe deadline is no later than 15 days after the date you made your initial trip payment
The Travelex Select, Travelex Max and Travel Insured WTP deadlines are no later than 21 days after the date you made your initial trip payment
The Travel Insured Gold deadline is no later than 30 days after the date you made your initial trip payment
All plans require:
With the exception of TravelSafe's Vacation & Premier, You insure 100% of your expected prepaid trip costs that would be non-refundable if you got hit by a cement truck on the day you were leaving for your trip and had to cancel at the last minute;
TravelSafe Vacation & Premier requires you to insure 100% of the non-refundable components of your trip that you want covered by the "Cancel For Any Reason" / "Change Your Mind". You do not have to insure your entire trip cost; and
You are not disabled from travel at the time you pay your premium and
You cancel your Trip more than two days (Travelex & TravelSafe) or fortyeight hours (CSA, Travel Guard & Travel Insured) prior to Your Scheduled Departure Date.
You also insure within 14 - 30 days (depending on the plan) of the payment for those arrangements including the cost of any subsequent arrangements (or any other subsequent arrangements not made through your travel agent) added to your Trip; and
Important: With the exception of TravelSafe Vacation & Premier, if you insure an amount less than your total prepaid trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restriction there will be no coverage available under the Optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit, if purchased.
This is handy to know: I use the term "scheduled penalty" below. A "scheduled penalty" is the total amount of money you'd lose at the time you cancel your trip. Cruises & Tours typically have a penalty schedule. And if you have a non-refundable airline ticket the entire cost will be the penalty because technically you can't get any of your money back if you cancel your trip.
You'll see split coverages below for the CSA Freestyle Luxe and TravelSafe plans. For example, your family of four is taking a cruise costing $5,000 total ($2,000 for non-refundable airline tickets & $3,000 for the cruise).
If you change your mind and cancel you trip before your final payment, your penalty is $2,000 (the non-refundable airline tickets). $2,000 divided by $5,000 is 40%. Therefore, the CSA Freestyle Luxe will refund you 90% of the $2,000 and TravelSafe will refund you 85% of the $2,000.
Here's how much these plans reimburse you if you use the "Cancel For Any Reason" benefit:
CSA Freestyle Luxe | |
Cancellation Penalty |
Maximum payable under the policy |
Up to 25% of trip cost |
100% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
26% to 50% of trip cost |
90% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
51% to 75% of trip cost |
80% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
Over 76% of trip cost |
70% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 24 hours after your initial trip payment |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US & Canadian Residents |
Travelex Select | |
Scheduled Penalty Amount |
|
Any Penalty Amount |
80% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 21 days after your initial trip payment |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US Residents Only except New Hampshire & Washington State residents |
Travelex Max | |
Scheduled Penalty Amount |
|
Any Penalty Amount |
80% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 21 days after your initial trip payment |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US Residents Only except New Hampshire, New York & Washington State residents |
Travel Guard | ||
Scheduled Penalty Amount |
||
Any Penalty Amount |
50% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
75% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 14 days after your initial trip payment | |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US Residents Only except New York & Washington State residents | |
Travel Insured | ||
Scheduled Penalty Amount |
||
Any Penalty Amount |
75% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation | |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 21 days after your initial trip payment |
No later than 30 days after your initial trip payment |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US Residents Only except Washington State residents | |
TravelSafe | |
Scheduled Penalty Amount |
Both TravelSafe Vacation and TravelSafe Premier |
0 - 25% |
100% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
26 - 50% |
85% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
Over 50% |
75% of the scheduled penalty at the time of trip cancellation |
The Deadline to Get the CFAR Benefit |
No later than 15 days after your initial trip payment |
Who Can Get This Plan? |
US & Canadian Residents |
Here's How Much Extra The Optional "Cancel For Any Reason" Benefit Costs:
Plan Name |
Add this to the policy premium for the total cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit |
Add 50% (or multiply it by 0.5) to each CSA Freestyle Luxe Plan per person premium to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 50% (or multiply it by 0.5) to the Travel Select per person premium to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 50% (or multiply it by 0.5) to the Travel Max per person premium to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 40% (or multiply it by 0.4) to the Protect Assist (Gold) per person premium plus a $3 service fee to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 50% (or multiply it by 0.5) to the Cruise, Tour & Travel (Platinum) per person premium plus a $3 service fee to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 50% (or multiply it by 0.5) to each Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector Plan or Gold Plan per person premium to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
Add 40% (or multiply it by 0.4) to each Vacation Plan per person premium to get the cost including the optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit | |
The cost for the Cancel For Any Reason Benefit is included at no extra charge, but if you buy the TravelSafe Premier more than 14 days after your initial trip payment you will not be covered with the Cancel For Any Reason Benefit |
Questions? Call Steve, Deanna, Becky, Teresa or Mary toll free at 1-888-407-3854.
VolcanoTravelinsurance.com is a division of TripInsuranceStore.com
Protect Yourself and Travel with Peace of Mind
 Since Jan. 2005 | ||
Easily Contact VolcanoTravelinsurance.com via email: steve@tripinsurancestore.com | ||
TripInsuranceStore.com
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Lee's Summit, MO 64081
Local: 507-214-3854
Toll free (US & Canada): 1-888-407-3854
Office hours: (Eastern Time Zone)
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