YOUR WINCRAZIEST A PRIZE CLAIM FOR ENTER YOUR WACKY CLAIMS AND WIN A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE (see page 4) Page 20 Page 24 Page 32 Page 36 ITIJITIJITIJInternational Travel Insurance Journal ISSUE 77 • JUNE 2007 ESSENTIAL READING FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS No deals cost Aussies urge insurance big bucks Miles Clarke in Sydney has details of the governmental push towards a greater uptake of International travellers whose insurance does not travel insurance have negotiated discount contracts with American hospitals are likely to be charged two to three Australia has undertaken a £5.4-million campaign times more than those covered by domestic over four years to encourage the more than half a private insurance, confirms a new survey. Milan million Australians who leave the country each month Korcok counts the dollars to take out travel insurance. Veteran Foreign Minister Alexander Downer launched the print and television Authored by Gerard Anderson, professor of health campaign, called Smartraveller, which aims to provide policy and management at Johns Hopkins School Australians with information to ensure that their travel of Public Health in Baltimore, the study, which first remains a safe and positive experience through their appeared in the journal Health Affairs, notes that understanding and taking into account risks such as ill the uninsured and self-pay patients were charged health, natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorist attacks on average two and a half times more for hospital or even simple mishaps that can mar a holiday. services in 2004 than those who were covered The campaign is aimed at all travellers, but has a by domestic insurance covered by negotiated particular focus on adventure travellers, who are discount contracts. Such contracts are normally deemed prepared to take a greater risk with their negotiated between hospitals and/or their networks health. While the number of Australians taking out and ‘wholesale’ buyers of services such as PPOs, travel insurance has soared in recent times, still managed care or insurance companies. around 25 per cent of people leave these shores Anderson wrote that the gap between the rates uninsured. hospitals charge self-pay patients or the uninsured The government points out that hospitalisation, and what the federal Medicare programme for medical evacuations, or even the return of a the elderly and disabled pays them has more than deceased’s remains to Australia can be very comprehensive consumer guide to travel insurance overseas on an annual basis. This includes over 700 doubled over the past 20 years. On average, expensive. Daily hospitalisation costs in Southeast and says it is not its intention to discourage Australians hospitalisations, 600 deaths and 100 evacuations hospitals charged self-payers or the uninsured more Asia regularly exceed £350; return of remains from from travelling. Indeed, it points out that only 0.6 of Australians to another location for medical than three times the Medicare allowable rate. Europe in excess of £5,000; while the cost of medical per cent of Australians travelling overseas each year purposes. The government notes, meanwhile, American hospitals traditionally have what are called evacuations from the United States range from encounter difficulty. that some insurance policies will not always cover chargemasters: lists of the retail rates charged for £30,000 to £70,000 and sometimes up to £120,000. Nonetheless, the Australian consulate staff handles claims originating in those countries to which the every item and service in their inventory. These The government’s Smartraveller website carries a over 20,000 cases involving Australians in difficulty Department of Foreign Affairs continued on p.4 compendia run to hundreds of continued on p.5 the United States Travel Insurance cancel a trip due to work obligations, and even for Association (UStiA), whose membership those who change their plans on a whim. It is also Evolution or extinction numbers have increased dramatically increasing its maximum trip cancellation insurance In order to continue the success of recent times, brokers, as comparing like-for-like since 9/11. And as the market matures, to $100,000 from $30,000 for travellers with big insurance companies must adapt to the changing policies has never been quicker companies are ‘leapfrogging one another holiday budgets, and, in an attempt to address needs of the customer. Mandy Aitchison takes a or simpler. In order to distinguish to expand coverage’, said Chris Harvey, the ubiquitous baggage problems, it is more than look at just how flexible companies are becoming themselves from their competitors chief executive of Squaremouth.com, doubling its maximum coverage for baggage loss. then, some companies are the online travel insurer. Another insurer, Travelex, added benefits to some New offerings from some insurers have made it adapting quickly in order to grab AIG Travel Guard, one of the biggest existing policies in November last year, including clear that in order to continue to grow, policies must their share of the market. players in the North American travel reimbursement to travellers for their unused theatre, be adapted to cope with the demands of the ever More than 17 million travel insurance business, is introducing a new sports or concert tickets purchased with a credit card evolving marketplace. The advent of the Internet insurance policies are sold each array of options by early June, including while on holiday. The company also helps travellers has also increased competition among insurers and year in the US, according to coverage for travellers who need to cope with identity theft, and continued on p.2 NEWS More luggage misery Visitors to New figures issued following a study by online of underwriting Canada beware insurer Swiftcover has found that one fifth of for the company, tourists arrive at their holiday destination only Craig Staniland, The World Economic Forum to find that their luggage has not followed them claims that the recently ranked Canada as one International Travel Insurance Journal there. The study also showed that 55 per cent of statistics are of the top ten best nations to ITIJ baggageless holidaymakers had to wait more than contributing to visit on holiday. Its Travel and 24 hours for their bags to be returned by their air holidaymakers Tourism Competitiveness Index operator. Twenty-two per cent of respondents, facing increased travel stress, as they spend the gave the country high scores for transportation WHAT’S IN meanwhile, collectively claimed to have spent at first few days of their break replacing lost objects infrastructure, health and education. So, for the least £212 million replacing lost items. Director ‘instead of winding down and relaxing’. 35 million visitors who travel to Canada every THIS ISSUE? He added that, “As long as you have adequate year, everything seems fine. However, the one travel insurance, losing your suitcase should not thing the country can’t offer tourists is free medical hit you in the pocket, but for the majority of care. Uninsurerd visitors to Canada, should they REGULARS people, it’s often the sentimental value of personal become ill or be injured, have to pay such costs belongings that cannot be replaced.” Despite this, out of their own pockets, which can end up being News 1 the study revealed that a number of holidaymakers very high. Cecile Langlois, national director of are leaving valuable items in their checked luggage, claims and travel assistance for Travel Insurance Editorial comment 5 most likely thanks to security restrictions. Four per Co-ordinators Ltd, said, “We’ve seen Canadian Company brief 7 cent were reported to have put cash or travellers hospitals charge non-residents $4,300 a day for Insurance matters 8 cheques in their suitcases, with five per cent treatment in the intensive care unit.” National Travel matters 14 packing personal documents in hold baggage. organisation Citizenship and Immigration Canada Air ambulance news 16 has therefore issued a recommendation to all Health matters 18 visitors to its country that they make sure they take out emergency health and medical cover for News analysis: Covering the big ‘C’ 20 Pensioner left behind their trip. World markets: Australia 36 The importance of having all the relevant loan of £5,000 in order to get herself home.” Grapevine 39 paperwork with you whilst away on holiday was It was only after another tour operator became Marketing matters 39 brought to the forefront again recently, following involved that the situation took a turn for the Service directory 40 the case of a 79-year-old woman from the UK better. As soon as John Tangney of pilgrimage Evolution or Diary dates 47 who became ill in France, and was left behind specialists Tangney Tours heard of the situation, in a hospital by her tour group. Beatrice Archer he took action and told the family his company On the move 47 extinction continued from p.1 set off on an Easter pilgrimage with Tours for would sort the mess out for a maximum charge Contributors 47 Churches, part of the larger NST travel group, of £500. Two days later, the company arranged includes reimbursement for specified expenses but she developed a chest infection, and went to for Mrs Archer’s son to be flown out to join her, incurred when restoring your identity. Access hospital when she began having difficulty breathing. and then for a nurse to bring them back. In total, America’s BizPack, meanwhile, is a business-themed FEATURES When it was discovered that the pilgrim lacked the company spent £2,000 on repatriating Mrs travel insurance offering to reimburse travellers if the necessary declaration of fitness to travel Archer, but hopes to get this back from its insurer. they can’t go on a trip due to unexpected business from her doctor, the travel group departed for Mr Tangney said of the matter: “I’ve been in this obligations.