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back to resources...
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preparation: discount cards
· choosing a pack
· packing
· travel insurance
passports
· travel documents
· visas
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The best way to compare
travel insurance plans is to visit a comparison website. However, some
comparison websites make the process very confusing and some even mislead the
unwary.
Make sure you receive an immediate policy number
When you purchase on-line or over the phone ask if you will immediately
receive a policy number along with a printable copy of your policy
documentation.
Some websites are not automated and cannot complete your purchase.
However, they make it look like they can. If you do not receive an immediate
policy number then you have ordered from a site that simply holds your data
until an operator manually types your order onto the insurance carriers
website.
If this happens to you, cancel the policy. An agent is required by law to
give you a full refund (minus a small admin fee of around $5) within 10 days
of your purchase.
The practice of manually typing orders is very dubious for a number of
reasons. There are many potential problems such as issues with security,
typing errors and privacy. If you placed an order on a non-automated site, the
insurance carrier would not know you were covered until someone arrives at the
office the next day and gets around to manually typing in your policy by
visiting the insurance carriers website and entering your order. What if you
ordered on a weekend? Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing you are not
covered and you may have already left on your vacation!
Is the agent affiliated with the insurance company?
Call an insurance carrier to check if the website and agent you are using
is in-fact one of their agents. Some websites sell policies for carriers even
though they are not agents.
Does the site sell you products you should not be able to buy?
Some websites lack the ability to accurately determine which products you
are able to buy. Policies are available depending on a number of factors. Some
websites will switch you to an alternate product after you have bought.
Confusing websites
Does a site list each plan up to ten times?
Some websites list each plan multiple times as they lack the technology to
allow options to be selected by the user. Unfortunately, this makes comparing
policies very confusing because you are presented with a single plan 10 times,
each with only very minor changes.
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, get travel insurance is an absolute must!
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