Short Term Medical Advisor

How I Spent My Spring Break

2011-02-22T08:51:00.001-08:00

Dear Mom and Dad,

Spring Break is a blast, wish you were here. The ocean is just beautiful, and the water is so clear you can almost see the jellyfish before they sting you. Boy those little suckers really hurt! I think I might remember where I left my wallet, too. I sure hope so, cause for the past few days I have been existing on a diet of Chicklets that I purchased from one of the roadside natives here. I tell ya, people can be very friendly to tourists. Just yesterday, some people told me to take a hike. I thought that was very nice of them to suggest recreational activities. Unfortunately, since the airline lost one of my bags on the way down here, I didn't have my hiking boots, and when that lizard bit my ankle, it hurt almost as bad as falling down that hill afterwards.

Thankfully, my friends were able to assemble a makeshift stretcher to help me get back to the main road, and boy were we ever relieved when that nice man in the truck came by to give us a ride to the clinic. At least, I think it was a clinic. I mean, there were cots there with a bunch of sick people laying on them, and I really think that if we had waited just a little longer, someone would have assisted us eventually. I'm really not sure. I was kind of beginning to pass out from the pain and none of the people dressed like nurses spoke English. My buddy had his translation dictionary with him, and although he tried to get help, it seems the clinic wouldn't treat me unless I paid them first. Unfortunately, they did not accept Chicklets.

Don't worry about me though, my foot is still black but I am beginning to get the feeling back in my toes which is certainly a good thing when you're sleeping outdoors. There are some crazy insects around here! I sure wish the hotel wouldn't have lost my reservation.

You know what mom and dad? I've been thinking about how you told me to get trip insurance from Insurance Services of America. I guess I didn't think I would need it, but it sure would have been nice to have someone who could have gotten me a new hotel room, or some emergency cash when I lost my wallet, or bought me some new boots, or paid the clinic so they would treat me and get me back home safely. Just like you would have done yourself if you were here. For under 2 bucks a day, a travel medical plan could have protected me and given you peace of mind, too. But don't worry about me, mom and dad! I think I might be coming home soon. I found a company that does medical evacuations, and although it is a bit costly, at least I'll be safe. And I promise, I will totally pay you back the Fifty Thousand Dollars just as soon as I can.

See you guys soon,

Your Son.

Santa Claus to offer Short Term Coverage for Seasonal Workers

2010-12-02T13:43:00.001-08:00

Check out this article I just read in the North Pole News:

For an elf, not having health insurance is risky business. Constantly crawling up ladders to hang mistletoe and candy canes, ice skating to work every day, racing snowmobiles on the weekends. Imagine their relief when Santa announced he would be offering short term medical insurance to his seasonal workers.

“We’ve always wanted to provide healthcare to these little guys when they come to work during the toy building season, but with their height to weight ratio and lack of social security numbers, we’ve just never been able to find a company to underwrite them," Says Albert Bates, CEO of Insurance Services of America. “Thankfully the HCC LIFE STM was the perfect plan for these folks. Just today we helped an elf submit a claim for an unfortunate slip and fall involving a narwhal horn.”

The elves have all expressed their gratitude and say they are very pleased with Santa’s decision to provide coverage for them. “Actually it was easy” Santa said. “We just applied online and everyone had ID cards in their teeny little hands within minutes.”

In addition to coverage for unforeseen sickness and injuries, the elves can also take advantage of a $50 Urgent Care co pay benefit that waives their deductible. The HCC Life STM also offers coverage to elves who have been declined for health insurance, as well as elfin child alone coverage.

According to Alabaster Snowball, the Human Resources Supervisor at North Pole Enterprises, Insurance Services of America has long been providing worldwide coverage for Santa during his International Travels and has been an integral part of extending that coverage to the rest of Santa’s crew. “Those guys are great,” Snowball stated. “When you call their office, they always answer the phone ‘Merry Christmas’. It’s nice to deal with a company who still calls it by the right name.”

2010-11-30T10:14:00.001-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas and at the North Pole,

The Holiday hustle was taking it's toll.

The elves were all busy finishing the toys,

As Santa prepared to visit good girls and boys.

Mrs. Claus in the kitchen had a list of her own

To make sure her husband would come safely home.

First aid kit, water, extra reindeer snacks,

A second warm jacket and red furry slacks

A map and a compass, chapped lip medication

His passport and visa, and documentation

But what was the most important thing in his sleigh?

His insurance card from the elves at ISA.

She thought it would be difficult, but found that it’s not,

Applied online and printed out her cards on the spot.

Santa told Rudolph, “Its time, let her rip!”

And took off for the night on his annual trip

They started in England, and worked through the night

On rooftops and chimneys, they continued their flight .

When suddenly out of nowhere it rose,

A star even brighter than old Rudolph’s nose!

It blinded the reindeer, they started to shudder.

Santa fell from the sleigh landing right in the gutter!

The reindeer were freaking, looking through Santa's sack

They found the insurance card Mrs. Claus packed.

With no change for the phone, (as one might expect)

they found a number on the card that said call collect.

ISA said, “Don’t worry, you’re in excellent hands”

Sometimes things happen that weren’t part of your plans~

We’re here to help you in any situation

Travel assistance, medical care, even repatriation.

Soon Santa recovered and was back on his way,

Thanks to the affordable travel medical

plan from his friends at ISA!

You never know when you might get injured or sick.

It can happen to anyone, even Saint Nick.

2010-11-29T11:04:00.001-08:00

'Tis the season for Holiday travel, and this year travelers are preparing for a whole new hassle at the airport- The Full Body Scan.

Now some travelers are all for enhanced pat-downs and extra security. Others feel their rights are being violated and are flat out refusing to fly. Whatever your opinion, a little knowledge and advanced planning is in order. Prepare for the inevitable delays and make sure to leave your gel shoe inserts in your checked luggage.

Now for the updated list of airports with full-body scanners:

You will find full-body scanners at the following US airports:

· Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)

· Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)

· Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)

· Boise Airport (BOI)

· Boston-Logan International (BOS)

· Bradley International Airport (BDL)

· Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport (BRO)

· Buffalo-Niagara International (BUF)

· Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)

· Chicago-O'Hare Airport (ORD)

· Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

· Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

· Columbus International Airport (CMH)

· Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)

· Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport (DFW)

· Denver International Airport (DEN)

· Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)

· El Paso International Airport (ELP)

· Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL)

· Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT)

· Gulfport-Biloxi Airport (GPT)

· Grand Rapids-Gerald R. Ford Airport (GRR)

· Harrisburg International Airport (HIA)

· Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

· Houston-George Bush International (IAH)

· Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

· Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)

· Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

· Laredo International Airport (LRD)

· Las Vegas-McCarran Airport (LAS)

· Lihue Airport (LIH)

· Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

· McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE)

· Memphis International Airport (MEM)

· Miami International Airport (MIA)

· Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (MKE)

· Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)

· Nashville International AIrport (BNA)

· New York - JFK International Airport (JFK)

· New York - LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

· Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR)

· New Orleans-Louis Armstrong International (MSY)

· Oakland International Airport (OAK)

· Omaha-Eppley Field (OMA)

· Orlando International Airport (MCO)

· Palm Beach International (PBI)

· Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

· Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

· Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

· Providence-T.F. Green International (PVD)

· Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

· Richmond International Airport (RIC)

· Rio Grande Valley-Harlington Airport (HRL)

· Rochester International Airport (RST)

· Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

· San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

· San Diego International Airport (SAN)

· San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

· San Jose-Mineta International Airport (SJC)

· San Juan- Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU)

· Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

· Spokane International Airport (GEG)

· St. Louis-Lambert International (STL)

· Tampa International Airport (TPA)

· Tulsa International Airport (TUL)

· Valley International Airport (HRL)

· Washington DC's Dulles Airport (IAD)

· Washington DC's Reagan Airport (DCA)

You will find full-body scanners at the following Canadian airports:

· Calgary International Airport (YYC)

· Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

· Halifax-Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)

· Kelowna International Airport (YLW)

· London International Airport (YXU)

· Moncton International Airport (YQM)

· Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

· Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier Airport (YOW)

· Regina International Airport (YQR)

· Saskatoon-John G. Diefenbaker International (YXE)

· Toronto City-Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)

· Toronto Pearson International (YYZ)

· Vancouver International (YVR)

· Victoria International Airport (YYJ)

· Winnipeg International Airport (WYG)

You will find full-body scanners at the following international airports:

· Amsterdam-Schipol Airport (AMS)

· Gimhae/Busan International (PUS)

· Gimpo/Seoul International (GMP)

· Jeju International (CJU)

· Lagos-Murtala Muhammad International (LOS)

· London-Heathrow (LHR)

· Manchester Airport (MAN)

· Milan-Malpensa International Airport (MXP) **No longer in use

· Moscow-Sheremetyevo International (SVO)

· Palermo International Airport (PMO) **No longer in use

· Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

· Rome-Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino (FCO) **No longer in use

· Tokyo-Narita International (NRT) *Trial period

· Venice-Marco Polo International (VCE) **No longer in use

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

Healthcare Reform in a Nutshell

2010-11-11T08:28:00.001-08:00

Have you read the health care bill yet? I sure haven’t- the dang thing is 2000 pages long! Thankfully, the fine folks at Reuters have created a summary of what is to be expected. Obviously there’s a lot more to it, but this is a good start.

Healthcare reform within the first year

• Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.

• Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

• Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

• Young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ health plans until the age of 26 instead of being dropped at age 19, or when they finish college.

• Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

• A temporary reinsurance program will be created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

• Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the “doughnut hole” coverage gap will get a $250 rebate.

• A tax credit will become available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

• A 10% tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.
Healthcare reform in 2011

• Medicare will provide 10% bonus payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons.

• Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get a free annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan service.

• New health plans will be required to cover preventive services with little or no cost to patients.

• A new program under the Medicaid plan for the poor goes into effect in October that allows states to offer home and community based care for the disabled that might otherwise require institutional care.

• Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage services will be frozen at 2010 levels. These payments are to be gradually reduced to bring them more in line with traditional Medicare.

• Employers will be required to disclose the value of health benefits on employees’ W-2 tax forms.

• An annual fee will be imposed on pharmaceutical companies according to market share. The fee will not apply to companies with sales of $5 million or less.

Healthcare reform in 2012

• Physician payment reforms will be implemented in Medicare to enhance primary care services and encourage doctors to form “accountable care organizations” to improve quality and efficiency of care.

• An incentive program will be established in Medicare for acute care hospitals to improve quality outcomes.

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the government programs, will begin tracking hospital readmission rates and puts in place financial incentives to reduce preventable readmissions.

Healthcare reform in 2013

• A national pilot program will be established for Medicare on payment bundling to encourage doctors, hospitals and other care providers to better coordinate patient care.

• The threshold for claiming medical expenses on itemized tax returns will be raised to 10% from 7.5% of income. The threshold will remain at 7.5% for the elderly through 2016.

• The Medicare payroll tax will be raised to 2.35% from 1.45% for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000. This tax will also be imposed on some investment income for that income group.

• A 2.9% excise tax will be imposed on the sale of medical devices. Anything generally purchased at the retail level by the public is excluded from the tax.

Healthcare reform in 2014

• State health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals will open.

• Most people will be required to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a fine if they don’t.

• Healthcare tax credits will become available to certain income groups to purchase coverage on the exchange.

• Health plans will no longer be able to exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

• Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage will face a fine of $2,000 for each employee if any worker receives subsidized insurance on the exchange. The first 30 employees aren’t counted for the fine.

• Health insurance companies will begin paying a fee based on their market share.
Healthcare reform in 2015

• Medicare will create a physician payment program aimed at rewarding quality of care rather than volume of services.

Healthcare reform in 2016

• An excise tax on high cost employer-provided plans will be imposed. The first $27,500 of a family plan and $10,200 for individual coverage will be exempt from the tax. Higher levels will be set for plans covering retirees and people in high risk professions.

So what do YOU think of the new Healthcare reform? Sound off in the comments section below:

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

On the Road Again...

2010-10-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about road trips are the fun new restaurants you can try along the way. I would never eat at a chain restaurant when I am in a different town; I like to sample the local ingredients and regional favorites. However, when you're in a different place, you can sometimes be taking a gamble. The best thing to do is ask the locals. They are going to know about those off the beaten path places with the best grub and the cleanest kitchens.
I am a planner. I love to plan my vacations cause it kind of feels like they begin earlier that way, and I have a couple favorite websites I visit before taking a road trip.

Where the Locals Eat lets you search by state to find the best eats in the area. You'll probably even find something in your own back yard that you haven't tried yet.

Road Trip America is an awesome planning tool that lets you search by area or route. You can even print out points of interest to read along the way and annoy the other people in the car with you.

Get Trip Insurance from Insurance Services of America. Since I am taking a road trip, I use the zero trip cost feature, which gets me all the coverage of the regular plan minus the airline benefits- for a fraction of the cost.

Here are a some other very useful road trip tips from our friends at Uptake.com:

1. Get the oil changed and your fluids checked before you leave.

Make sure your vehicle is road trip ready before you leave. Have the oil changed, fill up on windshield wiper fluid and make sure you have your license, registration and insurance up to date – and actually in the car with you.

2. Go with someone you love. Or like. A lot.

Good companionship can make all the difference on a road trip. The longer the trip, the more compatible you better be with the person you plan to be confined in a car with for hours on end.

3. Take turns driving.

It’s nice to get a break from the driving. It’s also nice to get a break from just sitting and watching out the window and trying really, really hard not to say anything when the other driver gets really, really close to the car in front of him. I mean, you know, for example. Don’t be afraid to do some of the driving.

4. Bring your own music.

Do you remember in the 80s when you had mixed tapes for everything? First Date Mix. Prom Night Mix. Ode To My Love For You Mix. A road trip is the perfect excuse to revive the mix (although it will probably take the form of a burned CD or a playlist on your iPod).

5. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen.

Sunglasses will prevent squinting and eye strain. Sunscreen will prevent an embarrassing sunburn on one half of your body. And cancer.

6. Avoid stupid traffic tickets.

Wear your seat belt. Use your turn signal. Don’t speed (or if you do, at least go with the flow of traffic). You’re going to get stuck in the exact same traffic jam due to construction as everyone else a few miles down the road anyway. (And the fines are double there.)

7. Bring your own food and drinks.

Convenient store food is fine up to a point, but if you’re going to be spending hours (or days) in a vehicle, plan ahead and bring food that doesn’t suck. I load up on water bottles, cans of pop, juice boxes, crackers, pre-made sandwiches, fruit and other travel friendly snacks.

8. Bring garbage bags.

If you’re going to be in the car for hours, chances are you’re going to be eating in the car. And drinking in the car. And chewing gum that comes in itty bitty gum wrappers in the car.
A well organized, decluttered road trip is a happy road trip.

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

Take a STAYCATION for free this weekend!

2010-09-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Smithsonian Magazine is offering it's annual free pass day to almost all museums nationwide. This is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the more expensive exhibits you've been longing to see but unable to budget.

Click here to download your free pass!

2010-09-20T15:19:00.001-07:00

Only 96 more shopping days till Christmas, and this year, travel experts warn that gifts aren’t the only thing we should buy early.

Travelers typically book their flight arrangements in the last 30 days before the holidays, but this year, with fares 20 to 30 percent higher than last year, travelers need to dedicate some time to shopping early, in order to get the best deal.

Another issue contributing to the shortage of airline seats this year: all the people who didn’t make it home last year. The economy may have caused us to alter our travel plans last year, but folks are less likely to miss two Christmases in a row. Coupled with the fact that airlines have cut capacity 12-15% since 2008, you can expect a very crowded plane if you’re lucky enough to nab a seat.

This year the holiday travel window is narrower than usual since the holidays fall on weekends. Consumers normally have a 16 to 19 day window for travel, but with both Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Saturdays this year, the peak travel period shortens to 14 days, experts say.

Here are a few tips to help get the most bang for your buck when making your travel arrangements-

If you're traveling with a party of four, the computer reservation system will give you the highest price of the four tickets in your search. So if three seats cost $200 each, but the fourth is $240, the $240 price will return when you search.

Don't forget to factor in peak travel surcharges. Most of the major carriers add $10 to $30 on top of published fares during the busiest travel periods.

Days around Thanksgiving with added charges include November 19-24 and 26-29, with the highest surcharges on November 28 and 29. Around Christmas and New Year's, December 17 to 24 and December 26 through January 3 will be subject to peak travel surcharges, with $30 charges on December 23, 26 and 27 and January 2 and 3, and the cheapest time to fly is typically the first flight out in the morning.

Another important tool in your vacation planning is protecting that financial investment. If ever your plans were at risk for delays, cancellations, missed connections, or lost baggage; it is during the busy holiday travel season.

A comprehensive trip insurance plan from Insurance Services of America will help you be prepared for the unexpected. Call the experts at Insurance Services of America and we'll help you find the coverage you need at a price you can live with.

800.647.4589

Short Term Insurance, who needs it? ME!

2010-09-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

I would like to share a story with you that hit very close to home.

Even though I work in the insurance business, I went uninsured for awhile. Actually, a very long while! My employer assumed I was on my husband's plan, I never told him otherwise, and consequently I tempted fate for a long time before it came up in conversation one day.

My boss was shocked. "What do you mean you don't have insurance? Take my credit card and sign up RIGHT NOW!"

So I did, and after years of living on the edge, I finally had some peace of mind.

About a month later, I slipped and fell in my mom's garage and broke my ankle. An ambulance ride to the emergency room, followed by surgery, and before I knew it, I was looking at $22,000.00 in medical bills. Yup, 22 GRAND, for a broken ankle.

I recently submitted these claims to the insurance company and in the coming weeks, I will keep you posted about the claims process. It is interesting to be on the customer side of things and it will definitely be good to get a first hand account of how the insurance company treats our clients. I am very confident that everything will be handled quickly and efficiently.

I can't tell you how many times I have heard that Short Term Health Insurance isn't worth it.

It sure was for me. Even if you are young, active and healthy, you never know when a faulty flip flop can put you on the receiving end of $22 thousand bucks in medical bills...

Stop living on the edge! Short term health insurance is affordable and comprehensive, and you never know when you might need it. Call the pros at Insurance Services of America or apply online from our secure website and print out your policy on the spot!

800-647-4589

Trip Delayed?

2010-08-12T13:21:00.001-07:00

Flights can be delayed or cancelled for a number of reasons, and while we can't cover flights delayed by disgruntled flight attendants, we can cover lots of other unforeseen circumstances.

Vacations are a big investment, and like any other big ticket item, it makes sense to insure it, right?

The Round Trip plan from Insurance Services of America was designed to protect your financial investment; so if you miss your connection, or your airline goes bankrupt, or if you become ill and cannot travel, we've got you covered. In addition, we'll cover you for things like lost or delayed baggage, emergency medical, evacuation, flight accidents, and all the yucky stuff you don't want to think about when planning your vacation.

Call the not-so-disgruntled agents at Insurance Services of America and let us find the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

Now please make sure your belongings are safely stowed in the overhead compartment and listen to your flight attendant.

They will be coming down the aisle with the beverage cart shortly...

800-647-4589

New Passport Fees, Coming Soon!

2010-07-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Time to send your passport to get those extra pages added in ASAP. Passport fees are going up, and they're doing it soon, on July 13 to be exact.

The full rundown of passport price hikes:

• Passport Old: $100 ~ New: $135 + $25 administrative fee

• Passports for children under 16Old: $85 ~ New: $105 + $25 administrative fee

• Passport renewal Old: $75 ~ New: $110

• Passport cards Old: $45 ~New: $55

• Passport cards for children under 16 Old:$35 ~New: $40

• Extra passport pages Old: Free ~ New: $82

For the full list of Visa fees click here

At Insurance Services of America, we do all we can to make your travel plans as simple as possible. When you apply online for one of our travel plans, you can print out your travel insurance documents instantly.

One less thing to worry about,

from the good folks at Insurance Services of America

Top 10 Dirtiest Hotel Rooms

2010-06-21T16:26:00.001-07:00

Once at a hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, we checked into our hotel and I immediately removed the bedspread, as I always do. Underneath was a huge pile of popcorn. That is why when Tripadvisor.com came out with their list of the 10 dirtiest hotel rooms in America, I immediately scanned the list for this place. It wasn't there, but I made note of the most offensive of offenders for future reference.

And the winners are:

1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California
2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri
3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia
5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
6. New York Inn, New York, New York
7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida
8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California
9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California
10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

What are the dirtiest things most people encounter in their hotels, and how do we sort of “sterilize” the rooms to protect ourselves?

This is what you do, in order, from the moment you enter your hotel room

CLEAN THE TV REMOTE AND PHONE: You may not realize what the SINGLE DIRTIEST item in your hotel room is but — go directly to the one item in the bedroom that has the highest levels of bacteria, the TV remote control unit. Wipe it off thoroughly. Next up, the telephone handset, especially the mouthpiece.

CHUCK THE BEDSPREAD: Walk over to the bedspread, lift it off the bed, throw it in the corner, never touch it again. Many hotels still only clean those bedspreads intermittently.

RINSE OUT THE GLASSES: Go into the bathroom — and the culprit here is not what you think. It’s not the sink, or the toilet or the bathtub. It’s the — water glasses! Here’s how this is a problem: Most hotel maids are tasked with cleaning up to 15 or 16 rooms in any given eight-hour shift. That’s a lot of rooms. And usually, by the time they get to the 12th room, they’re short on time and some of them start cutting corners. And what happens? They get to those glasses and don’t replace them. Instead, they quickly run them under cold water and replace them. Can you say eeeeeeeeeesh? My solution? Simple: Without hesitation, whenever you walk into a hotel bathroom, the first thing you do is take the water glasses and run them under hot water for two minutes, and you’ll be OK

CHECK THE MATTRESS: Lift up the mattress and search between the mattress and the box spring. If you see little brown streaks, that means there are – bed bugs. Move.

Bed bugs? Bacteria? Mold? These hotels are in the USA. You never know what will be waiting for you overseas.

A Travel Medical policy from Insurance Services of America is peace of mind you can depend on when you are outside your home country. We can insure against a dirty hotel room, but we can sure help you out if it makes you sick!

800.647.4589

Do you have a yucky hotel room story? Leave us a comment!

Plan Your Summer Vacation Early!

2010-05-07T13:57:00.001-07:00

According to the Wall Street Journal, as airlines reduce their capacity and prices are projected to go up, now is the time to book your summer vacation. In the past it may have paid off to buy tickets at the last minute, but this year, insiders are predicting a "summer seat squeeze."

There is some good news, however: since hotels cannot cut capacity as easily as airlines, domestic rates are still staying low. According to Bing Travel, rates at high-end hotels are down 10 percent this year. Travelocity said rates are down slightly, averaging $144 per night compared to $145 last year. Certain parts of the country have seen significant drops on room rates, such as Maui, Orlando and New York City.

"Travelers are going to find higher airfare rates across the board, but if they look into destinations with lower hotel rates they could save on the total trip cost," said Joel Grus, a fare expert at Bing Travel to the Wall Street Journal.

If you are planning you trip well in advance, you will also have the advantage of securing your trip insurance well in advance, which means you will be covered if something happens to cause you to cancel or delay your travel plans. Can you say Eyjafjallajokull? Ok, me neither…

Keep kids safe when you travel

2010-04-07T15:49:00.001-07:00

Even though Children who travel the globe are susceptible to a number of infections and injuries, a new study shows that while 59 percent of adults had gotten pre-travel medical care, only 49 percent of children had.

In a study of more than 34,000 international travelers who sought medical care for travel-related ills, researchers found that children most often suffered bouts of diarrhea, skin injuries, fevers and respiratory infections, and were more likely than adults to be hospitalized for their conditions.

Experts recommend that parents discuss their travel plans with their child's pediatrician about four to six weeks in advance, to leave enough time for any necessary vaccinations, medications, or drugs used to prevent things like malaria. Parents can also get advice on how to self-treat common problems like diarrhea and respiratory infections — and how to recognize when a child's symptoms are serious enough to warrant medical care.

Children are at greater risk of animal bites, CLM, respiratory infections and certain causes of diarrhea — like bacterial infection and acute gastroenteritis, a stomach infection often caused by food poisoning.

Traveling is a great experience for kids, and Insurance Services of America policyholders have just one more reason to love our plans.

Parents can add up to 2 kids under age 9 to their Travel Medical policy, completely free of charge.

You give your kids the world. We’ll give them worldwide protection.

Insurance Services of America

What a Week!

2010-03-19T10:03:00.001-07:00

File this under anything-can-happen-when-you-travel.

There was a ton of bad weather invading the US last week, which caused plenty of delays and cancellations, but the weather had nothing to do with a canceled flight scheduled from Rochester, New York to Atlanta. Apparently two flight attendants were fighting and the scuffle was enough for the pilot to call the whole trip off. Some passengers reported that the two flight attendants were actually engaged in a fist fight. Passengers trying to escape Rochester for warmer climates were pretty aggravated, and they had a difficult time making alternate travel plans due to the weather. Some passengers were trying to get married, others had non-refundable cruise tickets, and a few just wanted to enjoy some umbrella drinks on the beach.

Just as long as they weren’t planning on visiting a beach in Greece…

Violence broke out between police and protesters in central Athens Thursday as an estimated 30,000 people gathered as part of a nationwide general strike.

Riot police fired tear gas and percussion grenades after clashing with several hundred anarchists, who responded by throwing projectiles. Hooded youths representing Greece’s anarchist movement also attacked shop fronts, smashed the windows of one hotel and set a car on fire just off one of the city’s main streets. Flights have been grounded, public transportation has stopped, and ferry and rail service has been suspended.

Think that’s bad?

An American Airlines flight was recently delayed due to some stowaways on the airplane. The flight attendant told a passenger, "There are actually 50 roaches and they found a colony on a curtain between first class and the pilots."

According to a spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, the places you'd most likely see cockroaches on board include "in the bins that hold the luggage or just around the humans that are traveling on the airliner. But they're also going to be looking for food sources so it would not be uncommon to find them in the galley where the meals are being prepared."

Did you know that roaches can live up to a month without their head?
I know, I wish I hadn’t read that either.

The troubles didn’t end with air travel, though.

Guests arriving at the Radisson Paraiso hotel in Mexico City were not expecting to see picket lines, and at the risk of losing their pre-paid reservations, made the uncomfortable decision to cross those lines. This decision, however, was not the only discomfort they endured, as striking workers not only picketed the hotel, they locked guests out as well.

The workers started the incident by running through the corridors and yelling “Fire!” Once all the guests were outside, they were not allowed back into the hotel.

For two days.

Even to retrieve medicine, money, passports or anything else.

You might be thinking these are isolated incidents, folks, but all this happened just last week. Truth is, you never know what can happen when you travel, and when you’re in a foreign country, things can be even hairier. Anyone who thinks they don’t need trip insurance because they are healthy, or will only be gone a short time, etc. are not immune to the crazy things that happen when you travel.

A trip insurance plan from Insurance Services Of America will protect you from the things that haven’t even occurred to you yet. Insurance Services of America’s policyholders need only make one quick phone call while our 24/7 travel assistance team handles the rest.

Give us a call before your next vacation and enjoy the trip!

800.647.4589

How I Spent My Spring Break

2010-03-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

See you guys soon,

Your Son.

Save Money When you Travel During The Off-Season

2010-02-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

Planning to visit Hawaii, Aspen, New York, Paris or Napa, might require a hefty vacation budget, but if you time it right, you can visit these destinations when these places are at their most affordable. The best time to travel varies from destination to destination. That can mean shoulder season or off season, or finding that window in high season when rates take a dip, if only for a couple of weeks. And it's worth the effort, because the savings can range from 20 to 50 percent off high-season prices. They may not be truly "cheap”, but certainly more affordable.

Take London for example; both airfares and hotel rates fall between Oct. 15 and March 31, with the exception being the Christmas-through-New Year's holiday period.
The caveats here: weather and daylight. Wet, rainy and cold weather is to be expected, and the lack of daylight might turn off some travelers. In mid-winter the sun sets in London at 3:45 p.m. But if you accept that museums, the theater and restaurants are where you'll spend most of your time, you probably won't mind it so much.

Then there's Hawaii. Go now, while recession continues to leave thousands of empty hotel rooms throughout the state. If you're willing, postpone travel between September and early December, which has long been the low season for the Aloha State.

The month of May is a great time for Caribbean travel. By then prices could have dropped as much as 50 percent from winter highs, the weather is still terrific and the spring break crowds are gone. The weather gets warmer in June, but it can still be a terrific time to go. While July and August are quite hot, they might still be preferable to the weather in the U.S. at the same time. (Certainly cooler than our Arizona office!) September through November are the quietest time in the islands.
Of course there is one caution to heed in the Caribbean, and that's hurricane season, which extends from June through November. You should have travel insurance and stay at a hotel that has a hurricane policy (with refunds clearly spelled out).

Skiing in Aspen without dipping into your retirement fund? Go in early December. A rate at a popular luxury hotel was $219 a night for a mid-December stay in a basic room. In February that same room had jumped to $439 per night. Other dates worth looking at are the entire month of January, except Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Balmy breezes and empty beaches make Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket best during May and June. Before the private jet set arrive on these pricey islands every summer and fall, most hotels offer weekend deals to entice us regular folk. You'll especially see a lot of midweek deals. You can stroll these island beaches during May and June, but the waters don't really begin to warm up until July.

A trip insurance plan from Insurance Services of America fits nicely into your budget-conscious vacation plans. Since trip insurance rates are based on the cost of your trip, saving money at your destination means saving money on your coverage.

Call the experts at Insurance Services of America.

Show us your plans, and we'll show you ours!

800-647-4589

Spring Strike!

2010-02-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

The friendly skies? Not so much.

Lufthansa pilots just had a strike. British Airways flight attendants are planning a strike. Now French (and possibly Greek) air controllers are on strike. French air traffic controllers are in day two of their action and air traffic is suffering from all of the above.

As Spring break approaches, what better time for air controllers to call a five-day-long strike? On Tuesday, France’s civil aviation authority ordered airlines to cancel 25 percent of the flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is a major hub for air travel in the European Union. At this time, intercontinental flights are expected to operate. But short and medium-haul flights were disrupted Tuesday and significant cancellations and delays are anticipated today and until the end of the week.

Fifty percent of flights at Orly, Paris’s smaller airport, which serves destinations within the European Union, French overseas territories and North Africa, have been canceled. Some smaller French airports have closed completely.

This strike follows Lufthansa’s main pilots’ union agreeing to postpone its strike until March 9th. Even though the German airline agreed to return to the bargaining table, its flight schedule has already been disrupted. Air travelers should expect to be victims of the domino effect.

As of Wednesday morning, flights from Paris to the U.S. are operating, but expect delays.

In the UK, the union representing more than 12,000 British Airways cabin crew members voted Monday to strike over changes introduced late last year to employees’ contracts and a proposed two-year pay freeze. Air traffic controllers in Greece planned a 24-hour strike today to protest planned government budget cuts — the second such strike in less than a month there. Athens International Airport warned on its Web site that all flights into and out of the Greek capital would be canceled as of midnight.

Before leaving for the airport, confirm that your flight is operating and be prepared to wait.

A trip insurance from Insurance Services of America is designed to protect you if a strike hinders your travel plans. Naturally there are some exclusions, and policy wording can be confusing, so for regular folks like you and me, here’s how it breaks down:

In order for you to be covered in the event of a strike, you must purchase your trip insurance at least 14 days before you depart, and if a strike has already been announced prior to you purchasing coverage, it will not be covered. (This goes back to the old cliché about purchasing homeowners insurance while your house is on fire.)

So what can Insurance Services Of America policyholders expect if they get stuck due to the strikes? While their fellow stranded passengers clamor for the ticket counter, our clients need only make a quick phone call while our travel assistants take care of business.

Due to the worldwide financial crisis, travel experts do not anticipate things getting better any time soon, in fact, they say it will probably get worse. Right about now, you might be planning your summer travel, and there is no better time to make sure your trip insurance is in place before another strike is announced.

Call the experts at Insurance Services Of America to help you find the perfect plan for your travel needs.

800-647-4589

Those Darn Monkeys

2010-02-22T11:45:00.001-08:00

In my line of work, I hear some pretty crazy travel stories.

Many travelers figure they won’t need travel medical or trip insurance. I hear things like, “I’m extremely healthy”, or “I won’t be gone very long”, but what folks don’t realize is that anything can happen when you travel, regardless of your physical condition or what precautions you take.
Take for example the seasick traveler, whose false teeth fell out while he vomited over the side of a cruise ship, and put in a claim to his travel insurers for new dentures under “lost baggage”.

Take a gander at these actual claims made on a Travel Insurance policy:

Two vacationers in England filed a claim for damage to the paintwork of their car after it was licked by a herd of cows.

Two children visiting the beach with their family buried their parents’ video camera in the sand to prevent it from being stolen while they went swimming, but could not remember where. Thankfully, the insurers paid out.

A young British traveler, distracted by the appearance of a group of women in bikinis, broke his nose when he walked into a bus shelter in Athens. The insurance company paid the hospital bills.

A couple on vacation in Malaysia returned to their hotel to find that monkeys had stolen their clothes and scattered them all across the neighboring rainforest. Yup, the insurance company paid the claim.

A vacationer in Sri Lanka needed hospital treatment after a coconut fell on her head while she was reading in the shade below. Her insurance covered her medical expenses.

Destination wedding? A bride's dream Caribbean wedding was ruined after her dress caught fire on the barbecue. The groom picked up his wife and threw her into the ocean.

If you are planning a trip, big or small, BE PREPARED~ A comprehensive travel medical plan from Insurance Services of America will be all the protection you’ll need from the unexpected.

Lost In Translation?

2010-01-08T12:46:00.001-08:00

My co-workers are wondering why I am sitting alone in my office laughing hysterically, so I will leave them to think I have lost my mind as I share with you the reason for my amusement.

Please enjoy the following,

MANGLED TRANSLATIONS FROM ABROAD:

In a Paris hotel elevator:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.

In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel:
Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion.

In a Rhodes tailor shop:
Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation.

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:
It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose

In a Zurich hotel:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.

In a Rome laundry:
Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?

In a Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

In the office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

And to top it off

The Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention the Spanish translation read "Are you lactating?"

Coors put its slogan, "Turn it loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer from diarrhea".

Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: "Nothing sucks like an Electrolux".

Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick" curling iron to Germany, only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for the "manure stick".

When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside, since many people can't read.

Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious porno magazine.

An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I saw the potato" (la papa).

Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave", in Chinese.

The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Kekoukela", meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax", depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "kokou kole", translating into "happiness in the mouth".

Frank Perdue's chicken slogan, "it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate".

When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, it translated its "Fly in leather" campaign literally, which meant "Fly naked" (vuela en cuero) in Spanish.

When Parker Pen marketed a ball-point pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read, "it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you". The company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant".

If you're traveling to Tokyo, are you prepared to be toodled with vigor?

What of the airline takes your bags and sends them in all directions?

What if you become impregnated by your pen while flying naked to Mexico?

Yeah, we've got a plan for that.

At Insurance Services of America, we specialize in International Travel Medical and Trip Insurance.

Give us a call for prompt, professional, personal service.

800-647-4589

You never know what might happen while the chambermaid is flattening your underwear.

The REAL Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-09T08:59:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from your friends at

Insurance Services of America!

Gobble up these Thanksgiving Travel Tips:

2009-11-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to believe but we’re only a few weeks away from Thanksgiving. Travelers who are planning to fly somewhere and haven’t booked yet should be prepared for some painful fares and middle seats. For those who have booked and have confirmed reservations, here’s a trio of tips from Consumer Traveler, from the obvious, to perhaps the not-so-obvious.

1. Forget having a “normal” airport experience. Planes full of families and leisure travelers are just not the same as equally-full planes of business travelers. Occasional travelers are often less “entitled” than regular fliers, which is a good thing. But they don’t have the “rules” memorized, which is not.
Plenty of folks in security lines will be stopped for cell phones in pockets, water bottles in carry-ons, etc, etc. And, due to people cashing in miles and frequent fliers bringing their families, some of these people will be in the elite lines. (One line was held up recently by a young child who at first refused to take his shoes off.)

2. Full planes and iffy late November weather don’t increase the odds for a successful checked luggage experience. Especially as airlines try their best to keep flights on time, as they know people really want to make it home for the holidays. Getting baggage to destinations together with their owner is a goal, but a lower priority. In additional, leisure travelers tend to check more bags, so there’s simply more volume.
This doesn’t mean not to check your luggage, but if you have a special dress or outfit you REALLY want to wear for a holiday meal, or anything you must have within 24 hours of arrival, try extra hard to put it in your carry-on.

3. Bring a sense of humor. It’s not an easy travel holiday. Even people who are excited about visiting friends and relatives are usually at least a little stressed. And some are more than a little stressed. Plus, road warriors who are used to traveling and flying solo now are getting brought back to earth with family members. (The child who didn’t want to take his shoes off was with an elite-status frequent flier mother, who was incredibly embarrassed by her son’s actions.)

Keep these three Thanksgiving factors in mind while traveling and many maddening things that drive you crazy at the time will make great Thanksgiving dinner table stories later.

Whether you are driving, flying, or taking the train this Thanksgiving, don’t leave home without adequate travel insurance. Why risk your financial investment in the event of accident or illness, lost luggage, and missed connections? Call the pro’s at Insurance Services of America for a free instant quote, and see how affordable piece of mind can be.

And we’re not just talkin’ turkey!

Halloween Fun Facts

2009-10-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.

Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts.

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.

Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.

Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.

Monster Trivia & Folklore

**************************

Signs of a werewolf are a unibrow, hairy palms, tattoos, and a long middle finger.

Vampires are mythical beings who defy death by sucking the blood of humans.

In about 1 in 4 autopsies, a major disease is discovered that was previously undetected.

Halloween Movie Details

**************************

'Halloween" was made in only 21 days in 1978 on a very limited budget.

The movie was shot in the Spring and used fake autumn leaves.

The mask used by Michael Meyers in the movie "Halloween" was actually a William Shatner mask painted white.

The character Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis was named after John Carpenter's first girlfriend.

While the setting for the story is in Illinois, the license plates on the vehicles have California plates.

Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.

What is spookier than ghosts and goblins? Not having adequate health insurance!

Call the experts at Insurance Services of America for all your travel medical and short term health insurance needs!

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

Who's the friendliest in the sky?

2009-10-15T13:59:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite travel websites just conducted an informal poll of its readers and asked which was their favorite airline. Below are the top 10:

10. USAirways
9. Virgin America
8. AirTran
7. Alaska
6. United
5. JetBlue
4. Delta
3. American
2. Continental
And the winner is:
1. Southwest

So what puts Southwest ahead of the pack? Is it their fares, customer service, or maybe the fact that they are the only airline on the list that does not charge a baggage fee?

Tell me, dear readers, what is your airline of choice, and what makes them so?

One random commenter will receive a set of shiny new ISA luggage tags!

BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING WHEN YOU TRAVEL

2009-07-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

I just read and interesting article from the travel experts at Fodor’s. Last week, their art director found herself on the tarmac in Munich headed for Barcelona with absolutely no cash, no credit card, and no ATM card. All had been left in her camera case that was still hanging on the back of a stall in the ladies room near the departure lounge. Luckily, she arrived in Barcelona and was able to borrow money from friends while waiting for a new credit card to arrive.

But what if she had not had friends waiting for her in Barcelona? What if she's lost her passport as well? In a genuine emergency, when you have no cash or passport on hand, what would you do? It always helps to know where to turn in the event that your trip goes bad, especially when you're abroad and may not know anyone where you are traveling. Luckily, there are some simple things you can remember that can help you turn a travel disaster into something much less terrible. Take a tip from the experts with some simple steps toward safeguarding your travel plans:

1. Make copies of everything. Make color copies of your passport, credit cards and ATM card (both front and back), and your driver's license. If you lose these things, it's much easier to get them replaced if you have a good copy.

2. Know your bank's policies. Would your bank be able to mail you a replacement credit or ATM card immediately? Does it have branches or offices in the country where you'll be traveling? How about a local contact number? If not, how do you reach them?

3. Know the number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate. If you are traveling abroad, you should always have the telephone number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate, which you will have to visit in person to get a temporary replacement passport in the event that yours is lost or stolen. It's usually possible to get an emergency passport within 24 hours.

4. Get travel insurance. Insurance Services of America’s clients are provided with a 24 hour assistance help line. They can help you with an emergency cash transfer or can find the nearest consulate or an English-speaking doctor; even help you rebook flights if you miss a connection.

Some folks think they just don't need travel medical insurance. They figure they are healthy and won't need it. Unfortunately you never know what can go wrong when you travel, and when you're in a different country, small inconveniences can become tremendous problems.

When you are covered by a comprehensive travel medical plan from Insurance Services of America, in addition to being covered for medical emergencies, you'll have access to travel assistance 24 hours a day. We can help locate and return your lost checked baggage, help with cash transfers, make last minute changes to your itinerary, refer you to doctors, lawyers, aid in the replacement of lost prescriptions, and much more.

Don't get caught without adequate travel insurance!

Call the fine folks at Insurance Services of America for a great plan that won't break the bank.

800.647.4589