Squaremouth Pressroom

Squaremouth Names Top Travel Insurance Providers for First Quarter of 2012

Anna Coats — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:38:27 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL May 16, 2012 – Travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com announces Travel Insured International as the top-selling insurance provider for the first quarter of 2012.

Travel Insured has led in overall premium sales every month of the first quarter, with 21.82% of the market in January, 19.31% in February and 18.54% in March. Its Worldwide Trip Protector and Trip Protector Lite plans were the second and fifth best-selling travel insurance policies capturing 7.63% and 4.3% of sales, respectively.

“Travel Insured offers competitive pricing to seniors and ‘kids free’ options to families, which make their plans attractive to customers,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

Despite its top ranking, Travel Insured dropped almost 7% in market share compared to the first quarter of 2011 from 26.27% to 19.76%. Travel Guard and Travelex also saw decreases from 16.45% to 14.61% and 15.05% to 12.08%, respectively.

This decline illustrates the impact of travel insurance comparison shopping.

“When travelers use a comparison site, they can identify which policy is a better value. A lower premium doesn’t always result in reduced benefits,” says Harvey.

Seven Corners sales rose 8%, the largest of the quarter, from 5.09% in Q1 2011 to 13.64%. The addition of two travel insurance products in October 2011, Roundtrip Economy and Elite, assisted with growth. The Roundtrip Economy plan was the second best-selling policy for the first quarter of 2012 accounting for 8.01% of products sold.

CSA Travel Protection’s Custom Comprehensive plan had the highest sales of any policy during the first quarter at 10.45% of the overall market, helping them increase their overall sales almost 1% from 15.47% to 16.44% compared to same quarter last year.

“Last-minute customers gravitate towards CSA because its plans are often cheaper for travelers when they buy near their departure date,” says Squaremouth Marketing Manager Anna Coats.

Because Squaremouth does not recommend one provider or product over another, it provides an unbiased overview of the travel insurance industry. Data is currently compiled from the sales of 17 travel insurance providers with over 250 products.

“As a comparison site, we present travelers with the tools they need to make an informed decision,” explains Harvey. “There is no single product that dominates the travel insurance market in the United States. The top-seller only captures about 20% of the market. This means 80% of the time another travel insurance product is a better fit.”

Squaremouth Q1 Travel Insurance Leaderboard – Based on percentage of premium sold

Travel Insured International 19.76%
CSA Travel Protection 16.44%
Travel Guard 14.61%
Seven Corners Inc 13.64%
Travelex 12.08%

Squaremouth Q1 Travel Insurance Leaderboard – Based on percentage of policies sold

CSA Travel Protection Custom Comprehensive 10.45%
Seven Corners Roundtrip Economy 8.01%
Travel Insured International Worldwide Trip Protector 7.63%
Trawick International Safe Travels International 4.37%
Travel Insured International Trip Protector Lite 4.3%

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

About our Zero Complaint Guarantee
The cornerstone of our commitment to customers is Squaremouth’s guarantee to remove any company from our website if there is a customer complaint that cannot be resolved to our satisfaction. Squaremouth offers the broadest selection of insurance with an emphasis on quality and follow-up care in companies featured. We also factor in independent evaluation from the insurance industry watchdog AM Best.

Squaremouth offers products from the following travel insurance carriers:
Air Ambulance Card, CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert Admin, Global Rescue, Global Underwriters, HCC, HTH Worldwide, IMG, ITravelInsured, Medex, Medjet Assist, MH Ross, On Call International, Seven Corners, Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Services, Travel Insured, Travelers Liberty, Travelex, TravelSafe, Trawick International and USA Assist.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Spotlights Travel Insurance Provider Travelex Insurance Services

Anna Coats — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:38:15 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 30, 2012 – Leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com spotlights top-selling provider Travelex Insurance Services. Travelex led 2011 in overall sales, with 19.86% and ranked 3rd in sales for the first quarter of 2012 with 13.59%.

The travel insurance provider offers accidental death policies, annual travel insurance, and trip cancellation packages. Travelex’s Travel Max was the third best selling plan in 2011 and holds 6th place for 2012. It features 100% Trip Cancellation, 150% Trip Interruption, $100,000 Emergency Medical, $1,000,000 Medical Evacuation, Hurricane and Weather, Terrorism, Financial Default, Employment Layoff and Pre-existing Condition coverage.

All of Travelex’s Emergency Medical plans have primary coverage, allowing claims to be filed directly with the travel insurance provider, eliminating any involvement of a traveler’s health insurance company.

“Travelers like primary medical insurance because it makes the claims process faster,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “However, it will not provide any better medical care and can sometimes be more expensive.”

Travelex is the only provider on the Squaremouth site that offers All Events Upgrade, which gives travelers the ability to cancel their trips for reasons beyond the typical cancellation coverage. For example, it can protect against an overbooked airline or a cruise or tour operator cancellation. However, it will not cover reasons associated with fear or loss of enjoyment and can raise premiums by almost 50%.

Travelex offers 10 of Squaremouth’s 250+ travel insurance policies and has been sold on the comparison site since 2003. Its underwriters carry at an Excellent rating from AM Best.

As a Squaremouth insurance provider, Travelex complies with Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee. In the event a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of their claim, Squaremouth will mediate on their behalf, and go as far to remove a provider who does not resolve the claim to their satisfaction.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Spotlights Travel Insurance Provider Seven Corners

Anna Coats — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:17:45 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 30, 2012 – Leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com highlights its top-selling provider Seven Corners. During the 1st quarter of 2012, Seven Corners had the highest percentage of travel insurance sales, with 18.30%, an increase of over 8% compared to last year’s overall sales.

Seven Corners offers emergency medical benefits and trip cancellation insurance for U.S. travelers in the States and abroad. It features 24-hour worldwide assistance services to help customers find English speaking doctors or to organize an emergency evacuation.

The RoundTrip Economy plan is the third best-seller on Squaremouth.com, offering 100% Trip Cancellation, 150% Trip Interruption, $25,000 Emergency Medical, $250,000 Medical Evacuation, Travel and Baggage Delay, Baggage and Personal Loss, and Missed Connection coverages.

“Because of its lower premium, RoundTrip Economy is very popular with travelers looking for a value plan with a package of benefits,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

Seven Corners makes up 13 of Squaremouth’s 250+ plans, and offers multiple options for non-U.S. residents visiting the States, including a policy for stays up to 5 years. It works with multiple underwriters who holds A ratings or higher from AM Best and has been sold on the comparison site since 2007.

As a Squaremouth insurance provider, Seven Corners complies with Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee. In the event a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of their claim, Squaremouth will mediate on their behalf, and remove any provider who does not resolve the claim to the company’s satisfaction.

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Spotlights Travel Insurance Provider Travel Insured International

Anna Coats — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:47:46 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 30, 2012 – Leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com highlights industry sales leader Travel Insured International. Since 2008, Travel Insured has lead the travel insurance industry with the highest percentage of premium sold. In the 1st quarter of 2012, it held the top spot in overall premium sold, with 19.76%. The travel insurance provider was 2nd in overall sales with 15.71%, a slight decrease compared to last year’s 17.90% of sales.

All Travel Insured plans include Emergency Medical, Medical Evacuation, Travel and Baggage Delay, Baggage and Personal Item Loss, as well as 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Travel Assistance. Travelers have the option to include Trip Cancellation, Cancel for Work Reasons, Cancel for Any Reason, or Sports Coverage.

“Travel Insured often has some of the least expensive trip cancellation policies for families traveling with children, making them a smart buy,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

Squaremouth’s top seller for 2011 and second best-selling plan for 2012 is Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector. Children under 18 are insured for free on this plan if their adult family member is on the same policy. It also features 100% Trip Cancellation, 150% Trip Interruption, $50,000 Emergency Medical, $500,000 Medical Evacuation, Terrorism, Financial Default, and Pre-existing Condition coverage.

Trip Protector Lite Expanded offers similar benefits with lower coverage amounts, while Trip Protector Lite is Travel Insured’s lowest cost medical plan. Both allow one child free per adult, making them favorites for budget conscious families.

“By offering kid-free pricing with certain programs, we have witnessed a steady growth in sales,” says Travel Insured Public Relations Manager Erin Weiland. “It has also provided us with a wider range of family clients and after viewing its success, we will continue to offer free full coverage to a child of an individual under the policy.”

Travel Insured offers four of Squaremouth’s 250+ travel insurance plans and has been sold on the comparison site since 2004.

As a Squaremouth travel insurance provider, Travel Insured, whose underwriter carries an A rating from AM Best, complies with Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee, which will remove any insurance provider who does not resolve customer complaints to the comparison site’s satisfaction.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Spotlights Travel Insurance Provider CSA Travel Protection

Anna Coats — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:32:51 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 27, 2012 - Leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com highlights top-selling provider CSA Travel Protection. CSA has been sold on the comparison site since 2003 and carries an A- rating from AM Best and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Although it only makes up two of Squaremouth’s 250+ plans, CSA ranked second in overall in premium sold for the 1st quarter of 2012, with 16.45%. It also increased overall sales last quarter to 13.39%, an increase of 1% compared to last year’s 12.24%, making it fourth best-selling provider for the quarter.

CSA, a Europ Assistance Group company, has provided travel insurance and emergency assistance services for travelers for over 20 years. CSA’s two travel insurance plans, Custom Comprehensive and Custom Luxe Comprehensive offer travelers 100% trip cancellation coverage and 150% trip interruption coverage in addition to Emergency Medical, Travel and Baggage Delay, Baggage Loss, and Missed Connection coverages.

The Custom Comprehensive plan is Squaremouth’s top selling policy of 2012.

“CSA offers a lot of benefits at price points that are attractive to our customers. This combination makes them a good value,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

Custom Luxe offers travelers the rare opportunity to qualify for Pre-Existing Condition coverage up to 24 hours after the last trip payment.

“We feel that if a person is physically able to travel, they shouldn’t be encouraged against it because they can’t find coverage,” says CSA Marketing Manager Kathy Townend. “Offering our travelers pre-existing coverage until final payment helps more travelers travel.”

Another feature unique to CSA is that it offers competitive pricing for the last-minute traveler. A policy purchased the week before the departure date is approximately 30% cheaper than a policy purchased one year prior, while other travel insurance providers keep prices the same no matter the time frame.

As a Squaremouth insurance provider, CSA complies with Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee. In the event a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of their claim, Squaremouth will mediate on their behalf, and go as far to remove a provider who does not resolve the claim to Squaremouth’s satisfaction. This allows travelers to not only buy the best policy for their needs, but also purchase from a reputable provider.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

5 Questions to Ask to Prevent Purchasing the Wrong Travel Insurance Policy, Warns Squaremouth

Anna Coats — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:38 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 24, 2012 – Purchasing the wrong travel insurance could cost thousands of dollars in unpaid claims. Travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com encourages travelers to fully research all available policies before making a purchase. Travelers should understand why they’re buying insurance and decide the most important scenarios they want covered.

Squaremouth identifies 5 important questions for travelers to ask before purchasing travel insurance.

1. I have a medical issue. Will I be covered if I have complications during my trip?
Pre-existing Condition coverage is typically available to travelers who purchase their policies within two weeks of their original trip deposit and are healthy enough to travel on the policy purchase date.

After the Pre-existing Condition window has passed, travelers will be subjected to a medical look-back period of 60 days to 3 years. If there is has been no medical change during the look-back period, a Pre-existing Condition will often be covered, however, something as small as a prescription change can cause travelers to have a medical coverage exclusion.

“Availability of Pre-existing coverage is a one of the most asked questions from our customers,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “Insurance companies will closely examine travelers’ medical records when they file a claim, so it’s important they understand what is considered a Pre-existing Condition if they don’t have the coverage.”

2. Should I buy Cancel for Any Reason?
Trip cancellation covers travelers who cancel due to an illness or death. Since most travelers typically cancel for these reasons, only travelers who have a specific scenario not already covered by travel insurance should buy Cancel for Any Reason.

Cancel for Any Reason allows travelers to cancel their trip no matter the cause and receive reimbursement for their non-refundable expenses. However, this freedom comes with a price. This coverage can raise premiums by as much as 50% and will only refund up to 75% of the original trip cost.

3. Should I purchase Primary or Secondary Medical Insurance?
Travelers will receive the same type of medical treatment whether they have primary or secondary medical coverage. The difference between the two occurs during the claims process. Primary medical coverage processes the claim faster as the first payer, even if travelers have other medical insurance. Secondary coverage requires travelers to first file with their primary health insurance before processing a claim.

If travelers do not have health insurance, secondary coverage can still fully cover a medical claim.

4. How do I get travel insurance if I didn’t book through a travel agent?
Just as travelers can book online reservations without a traditional travel agent, they can also purchase travel insurance on their own.

However, while buying travel insurance through a cruise or airline may be convenient, it isn’t always advantageous.

“Travelers should approach buying travel insurance in the same manner they make travel plans. They wouldn’t buy the first airfare or hotel rate they come across, nor should they buy the first travel insurance plan they find. Those who do will end up paying more or not have the coverage they expected,” says Harvey.

5. Does it matter when I purchase travel insurance?
Timing is key when it comes to buying a travel insurance policy. Travelers who purchase travel insurance within the first two weeks of their trip deposit date are eligible for additional benefits. Most providers only offer Cancel for Any Reason, Pre-existing Condition, Financial Default and Cancel for Work Reasons coverage if the policy is purchased within 14 days of travelers’ first trip deposit date.

Even if travelers do not purchase travel insurance within those first two weeks, it is still beneficial to buy early.

“Travelers need to make sure they have coverage sooner rather than later, because they can never know when a sickness, weather issue, or other unexpected event could occur,” says Squaremouth Marketing Manager Anna Coats.

Travel insurance companies only pay claims to customers who have insurance before an event takes place, so once a hurricane is named or an airline has announced its bankruptcy, travelers who do not have insurance will not be covered for such incidents.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

USA Today Travel April 23, 2012 – How to Look for Inexpensive Travel Insurance

Anna Coats — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:39:53 +0000

Use a travel insurance cost comparison website. Sites such as tripinsurance.com, quotewright.com and squaremouth.com let you compare various travel insurance plans based on the type of travel, how much coverage you want and the types of emergencies the insurance will cover.

See the full article from USA Today Travel at: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/look-inexpensive-travel-insurance-103522.html

Travel Insurance Can Ease the Pain of Travel Delays for London Olympic Attendees

Anna Coats — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:28:48 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 20, 2012 – As millions of travelers flood London’s airports, airline passengers should prepare themselves for increased delays, advises travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.com.

According to the Heathrow Airport website, the Olympics will bring the largest influx of travelers in the airport’s history. The number of travelers passing through the London airport is estimated to increase as much as 30%, from 180,000 passengers per day to as high as 233,000.

“An increase of that size can cause major issues for air travelers,” says Squaremouth Marketing Manager Anna Coats. “Airline passengers may have travel delays, missed connections, or lost baggage occurrences.”

For travel insurance policies that have a delay benefit, it will reimburse travelers for food, lodging and local transportation expenses. Depending on the policy, coverage begins 3 to 24 hours after the original departure time has passed and provides up to $1,500 in coverage.

“Having a shorter waiting period for travel delay coverage can be the difference of sitting in the airport all day, or passing time relaxing in a hotel,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

The increase in airline passengers also means an increase in checked luggage. Heathrow estimates handling up to 35% more baggage, resulting in more than 200,000 pieces of luggage on the busiest days, July 26 and August 13, the days before and after opening and closing ceremonies.

If a traveler’s luggage is delayed by the airline, travel insurance can reimburse for clothing, toiletries and other daily necessities, up to the policy maximum, which ranges from $50-$2,500. However, most travel insurance policies carry a daily maximum benefit for delayed bags, and a per bag or item limit for lost luggage.

In the event that travelers have to cancel their Olympic plans all together because of a covered reason, trip cancellation coverage may reimburse for non-refundable, prepaid expenses, such as airline fares, lodging and Olympic tickets.

“When attending something as substantial as the Olympics, travelers should protect their investment. Spending a few dollars now, can save thousands if something were to go wrong,” advises Harvey.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

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Squaremouth Names Top Selling Travel Insurance Providers for March 2012

Anna Coats — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:17:45 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 19, 2012 – Travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com names Travel Insured International as its top selling travel insurance provider for March 2012, capturing almost 19% of the market. Travel Insured, who carries an “A” rating with AM Best, has been the top provider every month in 2012, as well as for the year of 2011.

Squaremouth credits the continued success of Travel Insured to its competitive pricing.

“Families and seniors account for a large number of travel insurance customers, and Travel Insured offers attractive policies to these groups,” says Squaremouth Marketing Manager Anna Coats.

As a comparison site, Squaremouth offers over 250 travel insurance policies from 17 major providers. Because Squaremouth does not promote a specific travel insurance company or target a certain demographic, it can provide an unbiased travel insurance sales assessment. The large variety of policies also offers customers a straightforward way to find travel insurance that fits their needs while saving hundreds of dollars.

“The top provider usually captures around 20% of the market, which means no one company or no one policy works for everyone,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “This emphasizes the importance of quoting different travel insurance policies to find best policy that meets a traveler’s specific scenario.”

The largest March increase in premium sold in came from TravelSafe who raised sales almost 2%, from 6.97% to 8.87% compared to that of February’s. Of the top five providers, CSA Travel Protection and Travelex saw gains in March, increasing .76% and .41% respectively.

Although it maintained the top spot, Travel Insured had the largest decline of the travel insurance providers, dropping 1% from 19.62% in February to 18.54% in March. The other three leaders had sales decreases ranging from .31%-1.01%.

Squaremouth March 2012 Travel Insurance Leaderboard – Based on percentage of premium sold

Travel Insured International 18.54%
CSA Travel Protection 16.44%
Travel Guard 14.41%
Seven Corners Inc 12.78%
Travelex 12.18%

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623
LinkedIn
Google+

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802
Chrisharvey.com
LinkedIn
Google+

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Fox News April 13, 2012 – Nothing ‘Square’ About These Offices

Anna Coats — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:34:57 +0000

Nothing ‘square’ about these offices: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com
ST. PETERSBURG – One of America’s fastest growing travel insurance companies is headquartered in St. Petersburg. It’s called Squaremouth. And, if you think their name is unusual, you should see their offices.

Truth be told, there are no offices at the headquarters. Most of the walls are made of glass, allowing everyone to see everyone virtually all the time.

“We wanted to be transparent,” said Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “To give you an idea, everybody knows what everybody else earns, so everybody has access to the books.”

IS THIS ANY WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS?

Harvey is a 47-year-old native of England. He’s been in the St. Pete area since 1998. He wears flip-flops to work, but most of the day he goes barefoot on the carpet of his headquarters in a high-rise office building overlooking the spectacular St. Pete waterfront.

There are no traditional desks. Most of the work is done by employees wearing shorts with no shoes lounging on contemporary chairs and sofas.

“We do it to make people feel better,” continued Harvey. “We want people to want to come to work.”

I’ll DRINK TO THAT

The beer keg beside the pool table adds to homey feel of the workplace. Harvey wanted a British Ale on tap, but he was outvoted by employees who wanted Bud Light.

Employees also vote on whether colleagues get pay raises. The group also interviews new potential employees. People who work here have unlimited vacation, and are free to tailor their schedules to their lifestyles.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Surprisingly, Harvey says the atmosphere isn’t for everyone, especially those who like to hide from the boss.

“Because you are responsible to everybody,” he explained. “It’s not whether you can impress the boss and get a raise and get a promotion. Here, the boss is just one vote, so you’ve got to be able to impress everybody.”

Not only the half-dozen employees here, but also the five in Ft. Wayne Indiana, at Squaremouth’s other location.

FINANCIAL GOALS

“We don’t have any financial goals,” Harvey said. “We’ve always felt that the financials will take care of themselves, assuming we do it right with happy employees and creative people”

Harvey takes pride in providing great customer service. Squaremouth posted $7.2-million in sales last year from its website, where the great majority of transactions take place. Those who call Squaremouth will hear a cheery and helpful voice on the other end. What they don’t know is that there’s not one telephone in the Squremouth call center; they all talk on computers — and most aren’t wearing shoes.

5 Pitfalls Summer Travelers Should Avoid When Buying Travel Insurance

Anna Coats — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:25:40 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL April 12, 2012 – As travelers finalize summer travel plans, they should examine their travel insurance needs to avoid purchasing the wrong policy. The main reason most travelers purchase travel insurance is to have the ability to cancel an upcoming trip. However, it is important that they understand which scenarios may not be protected by travel insurance warns travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.com.

While Squaremouth has listed scenarios where travelers cannot use trip cancellation coverage, those travelers who need specific reasons to cancel their trips should purchase Cancel for Any Reason coverage. Cancel for Any Reason allows travelers to cancel their trip up to two days before their departure without the need to provide a reason. A handful of travel insurance policies provide this benefit, which reimburses up to 75% of the trip cost. However, it can be expensive, raising premiums as high as 50 percent.

Top 5 Trip Cancellation Pitfalls:

1. Running Late
Travel insurance will not cover a missed flight because travelers have overslept or were running late. However, travel insurance can protect travelers if they were delayed by a car accident while traveling to the airport or if the airline caused the delay.

2. Civil Unrest
Travelers headed to countries with civil unrest, such as Libya or Syria, should understand the limitations of their travel insurance policies.

“Travelers should be particularly cautious when visiting countries known for these types of issues,” warns Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “Most policies do not offer trip cancellation coverage for war or civil unrest.”

While trip cancellation coverage may not apply when it comes to civil unrest, travelers with this concern should look for policies that include Non-Medical Evacuation, which provides a benefit to allow them to transition from a dangerous area to a safe place. In addition, terrorism coverage is provided on most policies.

3. Cruise or Tour Operator Cancellation
When a cruise or tour operator cancels a trip due to lack of participation, cancellation coverage will not pay a claim. Even if travelers are provided with vouchers or new travel dates, they will still be responsible for any change or cancellation fee for their transportation costs.

Travelers can seek reimbursement from their travel insurance company if the cancellation is due to the financial default of the cruise or tour operator.

“Financial Default coverage must be purchased prior to the company entering bankruptcy,” explains Squaremouth Marketing Manager Anna Coats. “In some cases this coverage may not go into effect until 14 days after the policy is purchased.”

4. Sickness or Death of a Pet
While most travelers take into account the health of family members when purchasing travel insurance, they don’t always consider the family pet. Travel insurance does not typically cover cancellation of a trip due to the death of a pet. This is a scenario when Cancel for Any Reason would be useful to travelers.

5. Change of Mind
Travel insurance does not provide coverage for those who cancel trips due to fear of potential problems or undesirable conditions, such as a virus outbreak on a cruise ship or bad weather during a beach vacation.

“Cancel for Any Reason is the perfect coverage to allow a traveler to claim for simply changing their mind,” adds Harvey.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance - http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance - http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Travel Insurance Named a Finalist for Best Places to Work 2012

Anna Coats — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:28:48 +0000

St. Petersburg, FL March 21, 2012 – Online travel insurance comparison site squaremouth.com has been named a finalist in the 2012 Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Squaremouth, which started in 2003, is nominated in the 10 to 25 employees category. According to The Tampa Bay Business Journal’s website, “The 2012 Best Places to Work Awards recognizes the region’s companies with the best work morale, engagement and retention.”

Headquartered in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, the Squaremouth office boasts an open and modern feel with glass walls, exposed ductwork and 180-degree views of Tampa Bay. Desks are clutter free without office supplies or even a telephone in sight. All calls are made through MacBooks or iPads. Squaremouth employees enjoy a relaxed work environment with music filling every room. They are encouraged to roam the office by working from a new desk each day or by stretching out on the plush couches to check email. Employees can wear anything they want, and shoes are optional.

Each day the Squaremouth staff begin with a morning meeting in the Circle of Love, comfy chairs arranged in a circle. Employees go over their tasks for the day to keep everyone on the same page and to assign accountability. From there, they go their separate ways to work on individual tasks. The Squaremouth culture allows freedom with minimal supervision, however, support is always available if needed.

Employees can play snooker, which is similar to pool, or take advantage of an outdoor deck overlooking Progress Energy Park, which hosts college spring training and international baseball games, as well as Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer games. The Squaremouth staff enjoys medical insurance, unlimited vacation time, profit sharing, free beer on tap, mandatory birthdays off with a bonus, and a 401k match.

Another Squaremouth characteristic is that employees initiate their own raise requests. During the raise presentation, employees discuss accomplishments or faults to determine if the salary increase is justified. A group vote determines the outcome. This structure makes employee salaries open information within the company.

Just as the Squaremouth working environment is unique, so is the company’s philosophy on customer service. Squaremouth prides itself on providing outstanding service to its travel insurance customers. All employees, even the CEO, assist travelers, delivering an extremely knowledgeable and courteous call experience.

“I want this company to be the best place anyone has ever worked at and the best company anyone’s ever bought from,” says Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey. “In order to provide the best customer service, we need happy, motivated employees, who are driven to do their very best.”

The company has seen significant growth over past five years, and was recognized with a Fast 50 Award as Tampa Bay’s 9th fastest-growing company, also awarded by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Squaremouth has grown 566 percent in the past five years.

The 2012 Best Places to Work winner is determined by an outside research firm based on employee questionnaires and will be announced April 19, 2012 at an awards luncheon.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Tampa Bay Times March 20, 2012 – Squaremouth puts hip workplace in downtown St. Petersburg

Anna Coats — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:38:53 +0000

It’s like preschool

but with beer.

It’s like Survivor

but in an office.

It’s like Expedia

but for travel insurance.

It’s hard to describe St. Petersburg-based Squaremouth Inc. succinctly because it’s different from most businesses in so many ways.

Its 10 employees have no phones or assigned desks. They work on the top floor of City Center, 100 Second Ave. S, barefoot and sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce on a white shag rug. They could opt to take their iPad2 out on the deck overlooking Al Lang Field or sit in one of the six sleek orange or green chairs with a fold-out desktop. Bud Light is always on tap at the keg next to the snooker table. (Snooker is like pool, but harder.)

The green couch is a favorite spot for naps, with blankets and pillows in the storage room.

If someone wants a raise, the whole company listens to their case and each person votes. Employees have unlimited paid vacation and have to take their birthdays off. Squaremouth’s financials are in a Web document everyone can access.

“You can have a real funky workspace but if you’re still doing things the same as everybody else, you’re really no different. The reason we have glass walls, the reason everything is so open is because everything is transparent,” said Chris Harvey, Squaremouth’s founder. “When everybody votes on a raise, you don’t just impress the boss, you have to impress everybody.”

Nine-year-old Squaremouth moved downtown from St. Pete Beach in December. It posted $7.2 million in sales last year from its website, which offers 250 travel insurance products.

Harvey, 47, started the company as Quotetravelinsurance.com in his son’s bedroom in 2003. That’s the son whose mouth formed a perfect square when he cried as a baby. His nickname became the company’s name in 2006 when Harvey wanted to distinguish it from other travel insurance websites. He started the company with a $250,000 loan against his home.

“Being less formal is certainly the culture in Silicon Valley at Google and places like that,” said Edgar Schein, MIT professor of management and author ofOrganizational Culture and Leadership: A Dynamic View. ”I know of very few organizations that will actually let a group make a decision that normally would be made by the boss. The positive would be it makes each player more valid in a group project. It requests a level of openness from the group and a willingness on the part of the boss to accept the group’s judgment.”

Transparency is big.

“If you’re a person who wants to keep your head down and just do enough and not get yelled at, you’ll be quickly found out in this kind of environment because it’s so transparent,” said Josh Walker, a product manager who brings new insurance providers to the site. He applied for a $10,000 raise 18 months ago but was turned down by the group.

“The embarrassment, you have to get over quickly. You have to show all your flaws as well as what works in your favor,” Walker said. “Having people poke and prod at your flaws is an incredible way to grow.”

He went for a raise again last week and his pay went from $41,200 to $51,200.

Everyone also got a vote on which of two locations the office would move to late last year. After looking at each one, they stood on a downtown sidewalk and had a show of hands. (A general consensus decided which beer would flow as well.)

Closing the generation gap

Americans spent nearly $1.8 billion on travel insurance and assistance services in 2010, up from $1.6 billion in 2008, according to Linda Kundell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Travel Insurance Association. Packages cover different mishaps such as missed flights, needing a doctor in a foreign country or having to cancel that Disney Cruise because the kids have chicken pox.

The typical policy sold over Squaremouth ranges from $200 to $3,000 per trip. It takes a 25 percent cut from the products it sells but underwrites nothing. It’s the middleman who helps buyers decide what options suit them best.

Other leading travel insurance sites include insuremytrip.com and quotewright.com.

Harvey believes changing his company’s name has made it more memorable but it wasn’t an easy transition.

“Initially it hurt us on Google. We disappeared,” he said. Sales dropped by $700,000 to $1 million in 2006 as marketing costs went from $24,000 to $100,000. Sales have climbed every year after that.

Harvey credits the company’s blog that triggers links to other social media and an emphasis on customer service.

Each of the employees, no matter their job title, answers customer service calls that come through their computers. Helping that customer becomes their top priority.

Though Squaremouth screams “young and hip,” most of its customers are 60 to 70 and Harvey wants them to feel comfortable, confident and appreciated. If several customers have the same question, then maybe a change should be made in a procedure or on the website.

“We may spend two hours talking about a three-line email,” Harvey laughed.

Fitting the right pegs

Job applicants are warned up front the company has a distinctive corporate culture.

Beer on tap and unlimited vacation would be disastrous for someone who takes a mile when they are given an inch. But for hardworking, determined and happy employees, loose rules are empowering.

“I think people are more creative and productive when they are relaxed,” Harvey said.

But can there be ill will if someone checks the books and finds out a colleague earns a much higher paycheck?

“I hope it creates ill will. Then they’re going to come ask for a raise,” Harvey said. Squaremouth gave everyone a 3 percent raise last year. Those wanting more can ask for a “raise meeting” at any time and make a presentation to colleagues.

“They almost don’t need to make a presentation because it’s based on what you’re doing every day,” he explained.

Squaremouth colleagues must explain their vote to everyone, including the employee in the hot seat. Harvey believes this prevents someone from voting “no” for petty reasons unrelated to work performance.

This peer approval mentality also limits printer use. Squaremouth has only one small, slow printer. If someone prints something, everyone else sees the walk of shame to retrieve it.

“Michele, what happens when we print?” Harvey recently asked operations manager Michelle Kleinmetz. “Trees cry. Glares are sent across the room,” she answered with a laugh, then added: “It seriously would take us over a year to go through one box of paper.”

See the full article from the Tampa Bay Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/squaremouth-puts-hip-workplace-in-downtown-st-petersburg/1220951

It’s Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance for Passengers Stranded by the Direct Air Collapse, Squaremouth Warns

Anna Coats — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:46:49 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL March 19, 2012 - Last week Direct Air passengers were left stranded at the height of Spring Break travel as the South Carolina-based airline suspended all flights. While future Direct Air passengers may have the urge to purchase travel insurance, online travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.com, warns it’s too late. Even for passengers whose travel plans aren’t until next month, once an airline announces it’s halting services, new travel insurance policies will not cover the flight cancellations.

According to the Associated Press, the cause of the suspension is a result of unpaid fuel bills. Direct Air has stated on its website that the airline is not assisting customers with alternate travel arrangements. They have advised customers to contact their credit card company for a refund.

“In today’s turbulent financial times, protection against financial default is a wise choice,” says iTravelInsured’s Executive Vice President Bill Dismore. “There have been countless tales of tour operators suddenly going out of business, cruise ships docking and leaving passengers stranded because of financial default and airlines ceasing operations for lack of funding.”

However, not all travel insurance policies include Financial Default coverage. For the policies that do include this benefit, travelers may have to wait 14 to 30 days after purchase before the benefit will go into effect. Travel insurance providers add this precaution to protect against fraud.

“If you’re purchasing a policy specifically for Financial Default, make sure you understand the waiting period to avoid buying a policy that won’t work for you,” warns Squaremouth CEO Chris Harvey.

Direct Air passengers currently traveling may be reimbursed for costs such as hotels, meals, telephone calls and local transportation during the travel delay. Travel insurance may also cover the additional cost of booking a new flight, even if the fare is higher. In some cases, travelers may be refunded the entire trip cost in the event an airline shuts down service and customers are unable to complete their travel.

“If the financial default occurs while on a covered trip, other benefits such as Trip Interruption, Travel Delay and Baggage delay may become applicable,” says Dismore. “Just as importantly, many travel insurance plans include 24/7 emergency travel assistance benefits. This provides a traveler with a resource that will assist them in making emergency accommodation and return home arrangements.”

Squaremouth offers products from the following travel insurance carriers:
Air Ambulance Card, CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert Admin, Global Rescue, Global Underwriters, HCC, HTH Worldwide, IMG, ITravelInsured, Medex, Medjet Assist, MH Ross, On Call International, Seven Corners,Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Services, Travel Insured, Travelers Liberty, Travelex, TravelSafe, Trawick International and USA Assist.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance - http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance - http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Names Top Travel Insurance Providers for February 2012

Anna Coats — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:47:37 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL MARCH 14, 2012 – Travel Insured International, who was the top selling travel insurance provider for the year of 2011 and also January 2012, maintained the top spot in February with almost 20% of the overall market according to Squaremouth.com, America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site.

“Travel Insured International continues to be one our top providers because they cater well to the senior market, a large purchaser of travel insurance,” says Squaremouth CEO, Chris Harvey.

In addition to offering competitive senior pricing, Squaremouth attributes Travel Insured International’s continued high sales to their “kids free” polices. Their Worldwide Trip Protector policy allows all children to be insured for free when traveling with a parent.

Since Squaremouth does not target specific demographics or promote individual providers, their statistics represent an unbiased overview of the travel insurance market.

“As a comparison site, we work hard with providers to present standardize policy information,” says Harvey. “This levels the playing field by providing a pure marketplace. If a product has a great benefit or feature, our platform allows it to shine against its competition.”

When customers compare travel insurance on Squaremouth’s website, policies can be viewed side-by-side in order to highlight benefit limits, such as the amount of emergency medical, trip cancellation and evacuation benefits.

A comparison engine such as Squaremouth caters to users by displaying hundreds of products from multiple providers, instead of the single product approach used by tour companies, cruise lines and agents.

“Travel insurance is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ product,” explains Harvey. “The best selling travel insurance provider normally captures about 20% of policy sales, which means 80% of the time other providers offer more well suited policies.”

Squaremouth February 2012 Travel Insurance Leaderboard – Based on percentage of premium sold

Travel Insured International 19.62%
CSA Travel Protection 15.68%
Travel Guard 14.72%
Seven Corners Inc 13.79%
Travelex 11.77%

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Travel Insurance Comparison Site Squaremouth Launches Policies from Trawick International

Anna Coats — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:55:03 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL March 12, 2012 – Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, announces the addition of Trawick International to its list of travel insurance providers. Travelers can now choose from 17 providers with over 250 different travel insurance policies.

“This is a great new partnership for Trawick International and we are delighted to be working with Squaremouth,” expressed company president, Daryl Trawick. “We look forward to bringing our advanced travel insurance products and excellent customer service to an expanded audience.”

Trawick’s Safe Travels USA policy is designed for foreign travelers visiting the United States, while the Safe Travels International policy is available to United States and international residents traveling outside their country of residence. Both travel insurance policies offer primary medical, medical evacuation and trip interruption coverage, with excellent ratings from A.M. Best.

“We are always striving to improve the number and quality of products we offer, and Trawick International has an excellent product portfolio that offers unique benefits to our customer base,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Trawick’s travel insurance policies offer pre-existing medical coverage and primary medical insurance ranging from $50,000 to $1 million. Primary medical coverage allows travelers to file directly with the travel insurance provider, instead of involving their personal health insurance provider during the claims process.

Additional benefits include unlimited Medical Evacuation, as well as a Non-Medical Evacuation benefit. While most travel insurance policies will evacuate someone in need of medical attention, only select plans provide a non-medical evacuation, which removes travelers from a place of danger to a place of safety during a time of civil or political unrest.

As a Squaremouth insurance provider, Trawick will comply with Squaremouth’s Zero Complaint Guarantee. If someone is unsatisfied with how their claim has been processed, Squaremouth will mediate on the customer’s behalf. If the claim is not resolved to Squaremouth’s satisfaction, the provider will be removed from the website. This allows travelers to concentrate on finding the right coverage for the best value, rather than worry about which company to choose.

“Our primary concern is how well our clients are treated by the travel insurance providers before, during and after their vacations,” said Harvey. “We are confident that Trawick’s products will be an excellent fit for Squaremouth’s clients, who have come to expect the highest level of customer service.”

Trawick International was established in 1998 and its products are underwritten by Starr Indemnity and Liability Company. It is a worldwide insurance and financial specialist with expertise in international travel medical insurance as well as international student health insurance.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Anna Coats
acoats@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 214-1623

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Check Before Buying Travel Insurance for a Strike, Coverage Might Not Be Available, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:01:09 +0000

St. Petersburg, FL February 16, 2012 – The European travel strike in Belgium and France has travelers questioning whether travel insurance will protect them if their trip is affected by the strike. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers should not buy a travel insurance policy to protect them in the event their trip is delayed, interrupted or cancelled because of the Belgium or French strikes. “Although many travel insurance policies can cover someone in this type of situation, once the strike has been announced, new policies will not cover anything caused by that strike,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Although standard travel insurance coverage is no longer available for these strikes, some travelers may be able to buy a travel insurance policy with the upgrade Cancel for Any Reason benefit. In the event someone wants the option to choose whether to take their trip, Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel their trip without an explanation. However, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

“In addition to an increase in premium, travelers should not expect a full refund like standard Trip Cancellation offers,” explains Harvey. “Most travel insurance policies with Cancel for Any Reason will only reimburse up to 75 percent of the trip cost.” Global Alert, a travel insurance providers, is the exception with policies that offer a refund up to 90 percent of the trip cost.

Travelers who purchased travel insurance prior to the announcement should look in their travel insurance policy to see what coverage is available. They should look within the travel insurance certificate under the definition of trip cancellation and trip interruption for the keyword strike. Policies that specifically mention strike will usually reimburse non-refundable trip costs if airline delays last for a significant amount of time.

In addition, most travel insurance policies purchased prior to the strike will offer coverage for Travel Delay and Missed Connection. Travel Delay will reimburse the costs of food, lodging and local transportation during a delay, while Missed Connection will help alleviate the cost to catch up to the trip. Depending on the travel insurance policy, the delay must last for anywhere from 3 to 24 hours before coverage is available.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

FOX Business February 7, 2012 – What to do When Your Airline Folds

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:49:10 +0000

…Although travel insurance is useful in many cases, you might be surprised to find airline shutdown isn’t covered. A scan of various plan levels on travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth revealed that only 41 out of 106 offered “financial default” coverage, and those were the most expensive options.

See the full article from FOX Business at: http://www.foxbusiness.com/travel/2012/02/07/what-to-do-when-your-airline-folds/#ixzz1mSi3cTpC

Be Careful, Your Travel Insurance Policy Might Not Cover Cancellations Due to Egypt’s Civil Unrest, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:22:33 +0000

St. Petersburg, FL February 8, 2012 – The recent civil unrest in Egypt and Syria has travelers concerned whether travel insurance will allow them to cancel their upcoming trip. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, most policies will not offer cancellation coverage for a riot or civil unrest. “In this type of situation, the only cancellation coverage available would be a policy with Cancel for Any Reason,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “However, if someone has already begun traveling, some policies will offer protection to evacuate them out of the country.”

“The United States warns U.S. citizens against travel to Syria and recommends that U.S. citizens in Syria depart immediately,” advises the U.S. Department of State. All official U.S. embassy personal and family have left Syria due to the violence and a deteriorating security situation.

If someone has recently booked a trip and wants the ability to choose whether they travel, Cancel for Any Reason is an upgrade benefit that allows them to cancel their trip without an explanation. Travelers will receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost, however, they must purchase the travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit.

If someone is currently traveling in Egypt or Syria, they should check their travel insurance policy to see if Non-Medical Evacuation coverage is available. “Non-Medical Evacuation is specifically designed for this type of situation and covers the cost of transporting the traveler from a place of danger to a nearby place of safety,” explains Harvey. This benefit is available in policies provided by HCC Medical Insurance Services, IMG, MH Ross, Seven Corners, Travel Guard, Travel Insured and Travel Safe.

Travelers overseas may also be able to find coverage under the Travel Delay and Missed Connection benefits. Travel Delay will reimburse the cost of lodging, food and local transportation during the delay, while Missed Connection will reimburse the cost of catching up to the trip if the delay causes a missed departure.

Squaremouth has compiled a list of official travel insurance provider statements regarding the civil unrest in Egypt and Syria here: http://blogs.squaremouth.com/travel-advice/insurance-provider-statements-on-unrest-in-egypt-and-syria/

About Squaremouth

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Chris Harvey

charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Top Five Myths for Travel Insurance During Cruise Season, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:20:33 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 24, 2012 – Having the right travel insurance to protect a cruise can mean the difference between a great trip and a financial crisis, warns Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “Many travelers fall into the trap of assuming they understand their policy’s coverage before thoroughly reading the certificate,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “This can lead to travelers thinking they are covered for situations the policy actually doesn’t cover.” When comparing travel insurance policies travelers should review the top travel insurance myths to get the best protection and value.

Myth #1: I Need $1 Million in Medical Evacuation Coverage
Don’t waste your money. “Some policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Since the costs to medically transport someone can increase the further away they are from home, understanding how much medical evacuation is necessary could alleviate many potential financial burdens. Getting someone home from a resort within in the U.S. may only cost $20,000. At the other end of the scale, evacuating someone from a cruise ship in Antarctica to a hospital in Argentina, then to the United States, could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination and type of trip. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for a cruise to the Carribbean, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Myth #2: The Insurance Provider Will Come Rescue Me From the Cruise
“Most people mistakenly believe medical evacuation coverage is a form of search and rescue, plucking injured hikers off of mountainsides or heart attack victims off cruise ships at sea,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

In most cases, local emergency services and the coast guard of the country where the person is injured are in charge of first response. In an emergency, it’s important to first dial the local equivalent of 9-1-1, then the travel insurance provider. However, if the travel insurance provider is the first to be called, they will coordinate local emergency services to make sure help is on the way.

Myth #3: Medical Evacuation Insurance Will Cover My Medical Treatment
Although medical evacuation insurance pays for everything from transportation to the nearest medical facility, to moving a victim to a different hospital for specialized care, to the return trip home, it doesn’t cover the cost of any medical treatment along the way.

“Evacuation providers, such as Medjet Assist and Air Ambulance don’t reimburse for things like an ambulance or medical treatment, so Emergency Medical coverage is still recommended,” advises Byrne.

Myth #4: I Can Choose Where I Want to Be Evacuated
Only to a degree. Victims or their family should call the travel insurance provider’s emergency assistance number as soon as reasonably possible. The emergency assistance team will be expected to be involved in all major medical and logistical decisions, including where treatment occurs. If specialized care or transport to another facility is needed, there are three parties involved in the decision: the insurance company, the treating physician and the policy holder.

If someone wants the option to choose where they will be treated, some travel insurance policies offer a Hospital of Choice upgrade. The Hospital of Choice benefit gives travelers the option to choose where they would like to be evacuated in the event of medical emergency. Travel Guard, Medjet Assist, Air Ambulance and Global Rescue all offer policies with the benefit.

Myth #5: The Travel Insurance Will Pay Up Front For My Medical Treatment
It’s not guaranteed. Many travelers are not aware that travel insurance policies are meant to be reimbursement policies

“Many travel insurance providers have the ability to arrange payment with medical providers overseas, but it is the treating facility’s decision as to whether or not they wish to work with you,” explains Suzanne Munson, Marketing Manager at Seven Corners, a travel insurance provider. “Be prepared to pay for your medical care upfront, and file a claim for reimbursement.”

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

LA Times January 22, 2012 – On the Spot: Will Costa refund airfares for future cruises?

Sarah M Byrne — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:39:10 +0000

…This may be one instance where travel insurance will not help you. As regular readers know, we often urge travel insurance if the amount you’ve invested is more than the amount you can afford to lose. But this time, even insurance might not help you, said Sarah Byrne, marketing manager for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site based inSt. Petersburg, Fla. Insurance might reimburse you for a mechanical breakdown, she said, but this sinking isn’t that, and although a couple of insurers have said they would cover this loss, most will not, she said.

See the full article from USA Today at: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-spot-20120122,0,290542.story

USA Today January 19, 2012 – Does travel insurance cover disasters such as Concordia?

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:50:05 +0000

…Those who upgrade to Cancel for Any Reason protection can, in fact, cancel for any reason, says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance.

According to Harvey, even if you cancel on whim, you’ll receive a refund up to 75% of the trip cost. But, he adds, to qualify for this benefit you need to have purchased a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of making your initial deposit.

See the full article from USA Today at: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/01/costa-concordia-travel-insurance/607190/1

Travelers May Not Be Able To Cancel Their Upcoming Cruise Without Cancel For Any Reason Coverage, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:33:53 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 18, 2012 – The recent cruise ship tragedy has travelers questioning whether travel insurance will provide reimbursement if they decide to cancel an upcoming cruise. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, it’s important for travelers to understand whether their travel insurance adequately protects them in the event they want to cancel. “While looking for a travel insurance policy, travelers should consider whether they are content with being able cancel for limited reasons, such as health and weather, or if they want the option to cancel if they are concerned a similar accident could happen on their cruise ship,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

“Since cancelling for fear of a similar situation happening isn’t covered under the standard Trip Cancellation benefit, travelers will want to look for policies with the Cancel for Any Reason benefit,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. Unlike Trip Cancellation, Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel the trip without explanation, and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost. However, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

“Most travel insurance programs do not provide coverage under the Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption benefits for events similar to the recent cruise ship loss since it was caused by the cruise line,” explains Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President at iTravelInsured. For coverage to be available, the cause of the event would have to be listed under the qualified reasons for reimbursement within the travel insurance policy. This type of situation is not listed under most policies.

In the event a travelers’ cruise is interrupted, Squaremouth encourages them to contact their travel insurance provider to see what type of coverage is available. “While CSA’s policies vary slightly in exact coverage, for this type of event the majority offer coverage and assistance for emergency medical treatment, evacuation, baggage loss and costs incurred due to finding new lodging,” explains Kathy Townend, CSA Travel Protection’s Marketing Manager.

Travelers are also reminded that each travel insurance policy comes with an emergency assistance number. Not only can they assist someone in a medical emergency, but they can help arrange an emergency cash transfer, language interpretation services, travel documents replacements, emergency messaging services and transportation services.

About Squaremouth

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Squaremouth Provides Travel Insurance Tips for This Year’s Cruise Wave Season

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:36:09 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL January 10, 2012 – As the most popular time of year for booking a cruise vacation has begun, travelers should take note of these important tips when buying a travel insurance policy. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, understanding the basics of travel insurance will help travelers save money and get the best coverage. Follow these tips to successfully choose the right travel insurance policy for an upcoming cruise.

Don’t Buy From the Cruise Line
Buying travel insurance from your airline, cruise line or tour company could result in purchasing a travel insurance policy for a higher premium with lower benefits. This is a common mistake many travelers make and can be the result of the lack of travel insurance options provided by the travel supplier. Squaremouth recommends searching for travel insurance on a comparison engine. This will provide more options with better travel insurance policies for less money.

Don’t Over Spend On Excessive Coverage
Each traveler’s requirements will vary depending on their destination, age or health. If a person is young, healthy and traveling to the Caribbean, the medical requirements will be low. The opposite will apply if a traveler is older or traveling to far away countries.

“Some travel insurance policies offer several million dollars of evacuation coverage, however, it is rare for an evacuation to cost more than $100,000,” advises Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Don’t spend more for a travel insurance policy thinking multi-million dollar coverage is necessary.”

Squaremouth recommends choosing the amount of medical evacuation insurance based on the destination. For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for visiting Europe, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage.

Don’t Be Thrown Off By a Less Expensive Price
“While comparing travel insurance on Squaremouth.com, don’t be concerned that a policy is inferior because of its low price,” says Harvey. “It simply means the traveler has hit the ‘Sweet Spot,’ and qualified for the best rate.”

Many people mistakenly believe paying more for a product ensures a better policy or faster claim payment. The reality is that each product is aimed at a different demographic. This explains why some policies are inexpensive but offer better benefits. Squaremouth maintains a zero complaint policy, therefore all companies on the site adhere to very strict standards for Squaremouth’s clients. As a result, they can expect to receive only quality products and service from every travel insurance provider on Squaremouth.

Choosing the Right Cancellation Coverage
Having the option to cancel in case of an illness or death of a relative is typically the main reason for purchasing travel insurance. When deciding how much cancellation coverage is needed, it’s wise for travelers to think of the potential reasons their trip could be cancelled, and then check that the policy provides coverage for those circumstances. If those concerns are not listed under the standard Trip Cancellation benefit, consider purchasing a policy with the benefit Cancel for Any Reason.

“Cancel for Any Reason was created to offer additional cancellation coverage for the unexpected situations that are not covered in a travel insurance policy, such as fear of bad weather” explains Byrne. “It also gives someone the option to decide whether they want to take their trip without providing an explanation.”

Although this benefit may be appealing to some, it will be an additional cost that may not be necessary for most travelers. “In most cases, Trip Cancellation will provide the right amount of cancellation coverage needed by travelers,” says Byrne.

Don’t Worry If You Buy the Wrong Policy
Although there are many choices and options when it comes to buying travel insurance, travelers shouldn’t be concerned if they end up buying the wrong policy. Most policies offer a money back guarantee that will allow travelers to cancel their policy and receive a refund. “If travelers are not happy with their policy, they are not required to keep it,” says Byrne. Depending on the provider, the guarantee can last for up to 15 days after the purchase date. Most companies will refund the full amount minus an admin fee of around $6 to $8 per policy.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Hazardous Sports Coverage for Your Upcoming Ski Trip, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:15:18 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL December 30, 2011 - A ski trip with friends and family is a great way to ring in the New Year, but don’t spend extra on travel insurance to cover the trip down the slopes. As many travelers look into buying a travel insurance policy to protect them in the event of an accident or medical emergency, Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, recommends not buying a policy’s optional hazardous sports upgrade. “Most standard travel insurance policies cover someone while they are skiing or snowboarding,” explains Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “Additional coverage is only necessary if they will be participating in heliskiing or another extreme sport, such as mountaineering or skydiving.”

“It’s common for travelers to question whether or not they need the additional coverage,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Although most travelers will not need it, it’s always important to read the fine print to know exactly what the policy will cover.”

While comparing policies, travelers should review the list of activities not covered by the policy. This allows travelers to confirm whether or not the travel insurance policy will cover them while skiing or snowboarding. These activities are typically found under the ‘General Exclusions’ section within the policy’s certificate. If skiing or snowboarding is not listed, travelers do not need to buy the upgrade, saving them money.

If additional coverage is needed, the Hazardous Sports benefit will cover evacuation to a hospital and medical treatment if injured during an extreme sport. “If you have a policy that excludes skiing and you didn’t select the Hazardous Sports option, a travel insurance provider will deny the claim, leaving you responsible for all medical bills,” advises Byrne.

Travelers should also be aware if they are planning to participate in a sporting competition, coverage will most likely not be available. This can include anyone from kids participating in a weekend ski competition to a professional snowboarder. “Even though the sporting event may not be considered a hazardous sports, most travel insurance providers will not cover these athletes,” says Byrne.

About Squaremouth

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Top Three Tips to Avoid Buying Too Much Travel Insurance Coverage, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:25:10 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL December 22, 2011 – As holiday travel begins, many travelers are looking into purchasing travel insurance to protect their expenses. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, many travelers are spending more money on travel insurance policies to cover pre-existing medical conditions simply because they assume they need it. “Understanding pre-existing coverage can save travelers money and allow them to choose from more policies with better coverage,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Follow these tips to prevent three common mistakes many travelers make when buying travel insurance.

Pre-Existing Coverage Might Not Be Needed
Many travel insurance providers offer policies that cover travelers in the event a pre-existing medical condition prevents them from traveling. However, many travelers mistakenly buy a more expensive policy because they think they need coverage for their pre-existing condition.

What many travelers are not aware of is what travel insurance providers consider to be a pre-existing condition. Each travel insurance provider has a look back period to determine if a condition is pre-existing. For example, some of Travel Guard’s policies have a 180 day look back period. If someone’s condition has been stable during the 180 days prior to effective date, Travel Guard will not consider that person’s condition to be pre-existing. That person will not need pre-existing coverage, allowing them to have more travel insurance options for a less expensive price.

Pre-Existing Coverage for a Non-Traveling Family Member
In other situations, travelers buy travel insurance to protect them in the event an ill family member’s condition worsens, and they are unable to take the trip. Depending on the travel insurance policy, some will require travelers to buy pre-existing coverage, even though they do not have the pre-existing condition.

“Nearly half of the travel insurance providers will require travelers to have pre-existing coverage if they want to be able to cancel due to a non-traveling family member’s pre-existing condition,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Since many travelers are not aware of this limitation, it’s common for them to be concerned if their travel insurance quote does not return policies with pre-existing coverage. In these situations, Squaremouth recommends looking for a travel insurance policy that doesn’t look to see if a non-traveling family member’s illness was a result of a pre-existing condition.

“The key is too look into a policy’s definition of a pre-existing condition to determine who needs pre-existing coverage,” says Harvey. CSA Travel Protection, Global Alert, HTH Worldwide, MH Ross, Seven Corners, Travel Insurance Services and Travel Safe all offer policies that only define travelers as those who need pre-existing coverage .

Limitations on Pre-Existing Coverage
When buying a policy that covers pre-existing conditions, make sure to read the fine print.
“Although some policies offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, some policies will limit the amount of coverage available,” explains Byrne.

For example, HTH Worldwide’s TravelGap Excursion and IMG’s Patriot International both cover pre-existing conditions, however, the traveler must be enrolled in a primary health insurance plan for coverage to be valid. HCC Medical Insurance Services and Seven Corners offer policies limiting the amount of coverage that can reimbursed for pre-existing medical conditions. For example, although the policy offers $50,000 in emergency medical, HCC’s Atlas International policy will only reimburse travelers under the age of 70, $15,000 per unexpected recurrence resulting from a pre-existing condition.

It’s important to remember, if a traveler requires pre-existing coverage, they should shop early for travel insurance. Almost all travel insurance policies require a policy to be purchase within 14-30 from the first trip deposit for pre-existing coverage to be available. Alternatively, CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide plans are the exception to the rule. Most of their plans cover pre-existing conditions if the insurance is purchased within 24 hours of the final trip payment, regardless of the deposit date.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Time is Running Out to Buy Travel Insurance for Iceland’s Volcano Katla, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:58:51 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL December 6, 2011 – Holiday travelers are being warned to prepare for travel delays as a result of Iceland’s volcano Katla. With more than 500 tremors in and around the caldera of Katla in November 2011, scientists expect Katla to erupt any day now. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers still have time to purchase a travel insurance policy and have coverage in the event Katla delays or ruins their trip.

Travelers should be warned if they buy a travel insurance policy after the eruption, they will most likely not be covered. “Travel Insurance policies generally do not cover events related to natural disasters that are in progress or have just happened,” warns Squaremouth’s CEO Chris Harvey. “Once an event is considered foreseen, it is too late to purchase a policy that will cover that event.”

When comparing policies, travelers should look for key benefits, such as Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Travel Delay and Missed Connection. Although most travel insurance policies are similar in that they reimburse the cost of food, lodging and local transportation, some policies tend to differ in the reasons a traveler can cancel and receive a refund.

“Policy language for canceling or interrupting a trip is very specific, there are rarely blanket statements that define coverage,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. Even if a traveler experiences something completely out of their control and entirely unforeseeable, if it is not clearly stated in the policy, coverage may not be available. It is always a good idea to review the covered reasons for trip cancellation and trip interruption to fully understand how the trip is protected.

Most travel insurance providers typically consider volcanic eruptions as natural disasters, however, some travel insurance providers defined last year’s ash cloud as a weather event, giving travelers more coverage.

It’s important to remember, airport closures and damaged roads or bridges from natural disasters are seldom covered reasons to cancel or interrupt a trip. There might be coverage if an airline stops servicing the destination for 24 or 48 hours, but normally only if caused by inclement weather. Few travel insurance policies provide coverage when a natural disaster causes a cancellation or interruption.

“CSA Travel Protection considers natural disasters and adverse weather to be separate categories of events,” explains Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection, a travel insurance provider. “Although they sometimes occur together or overlap, a natural disaster is not always caused by adverse weather, and adverse weather is not always accompanied by a natural disaster.”

If someone wants the option to cancel whether or not Katla erupts, Squaremouth recommends finding a policy that offers the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. Cancel for Any Reason allows someone to cancel the trip without explanation, and receive a refund up to 75 percent of the trip cost. However, to qualify for this benefit, travelers must purchase a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of the initial deposit payment.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

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It’s Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance to Protect Your American Airlines Ticket, Warns Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:09:24 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL November 30, 2011 – The recent bankruptcy announcement of American Airlines has many travelers looking into travel insurance to protect their expenses. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers should not buy a travel insurance policy to cover their American Airlines ticket. “Although many travel insurance policies can cover someone in the event their airline, cruise line or tour operator goes bankrupt, once the bankruptcy is announced, new policies will not cover anything resulting from that bankruptcy,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.

“As we’re seeing with American Airlines, even large organizations can run into financial trouble. This is one of the unforeseen circumstances that can ruin a trip,” explains Kathy Townend, Marketing Manager at CSA Travel Protection. “If a traveler purchases a plan with financial insolvency coverage, they can be reimbursed if their trip is cancelled or interrupted due to the travel supplier’s financial default.”

Although Financial Default coverage is no longer available for American Airline customers, travelers looking for coverage for another airline or cruise line should be aware that many insurance providers only offer bankruptcy coverage if the travel insurance policy is purchased within 14 days from the first trip payment or deposit.

“Even when a trip is booked well in advance with only a minimal deposit, that date still determines how long the Financial Default benefit is available for purchase,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

Most travel insurance providers also have a 14 day wait period after the policy is purchased. As a result, if someone bought a policy today, they would not be able to make a travel insurance claim within the first two weeks due to bankruptcy.

If someone misses the 14 day time frame to buy Financial Default coverage, they should look for policies from Travelex Insurance Services, CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide. CSA and HTH both offer Financial Default coverage if the policy is purchased before the final trip payment, while Travelex’s Basic, Select and Max policies offer the benefit at any time.

It’s important to remember, if a traveler purchases travel insurance directly from the airline and that airline goes bankrupt, coverage may not be valid. “To protect your travel investment, whether a single airline ticket purchase, a cruise or other vacation, third party travel insurance is the always the best option,” says Byrne.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Travel Insurance to Cover Your Camera, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:10:08 +0000

ST. PETE BEACH, FL November 21, 2011 – Traveling with an expensive camera or computer? According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, travelers should check their travel insurance policy to see how much protection they have for these items. “Most travel insurance policies limit the amount that will be reimbursed for items like cameras, computers and jewelery,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth.com.

Although most travel insurance policies cover travelers for lost, damaged or stolen personal items, the amount of coverage will vary from one policy to the next. If someone is traveling with an expensive camera or jewelery, Squaremouth encourages them to look closely at the fine print.

“Although a policy may have coverage for up to $5,000 in Baggage and Personal Items Loss benefit, most policies limit the amount that can be claimed for like computers, iPods and watches,” explains Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

For example, Travel Guard and Travel Insured International offer policies covering up to $2,500 in Baggage and Personal Items Loss, however, only $500 will reimbursed for those types of items.

“Travelex insurance policies have a specific limit for cameras, jewelry, furs and other expensive possessions because travel insurance can only cover a certain amount of risk for the premium paid,” says Christine Buggy, Director of Marketing at Travelex Insurance Services. “Plus with these types of items, there is also a high risk of fraud.”

If travelers want more baggage protection than the average travel insurance policy, they should look for policies from CSA Travel Protection, HTH Worldwide and Seven Corners. CSA and HTH both offer baggage protection ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 without a specific items limit, and Seven Corners offers policies with up to $2,000 in specific items coverage.

If someone is traveling with high priced items and cannot find enough coverage through a travel insurance policy, Squaremouth recommends insuring those items under a homeowners or personal property insurance.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk

Check Your Health Insurance – You Might Not Be Covered Overseas, Advises Squaremouth

Sarah M Byrne — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:32:55 +0000

ST PETE BEACH, FL November 14, 2011 – As the holidays approach, many travelers are considering travel insurance to cover medical expenses while overseas. According to Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance, it’s important for travelers to understand how much coverage their health insurance provides before traveling. “Many travelers are unaware their health insurance doesn’t cover them once they leave the U.S.,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at Squaremouth. “Understanding what coverage they may or may not have prior to buying travel insurance will ensure the right amount of protection while saving them money.”

Travelers who do not have health insurance while traveling have the option of choosing between a primary or secondary medical travel insurance policy. “A secondary plan means that if no other coverage is available, the secondary plan becomes primary,” explains Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President of iTravelInsured, a travel insurance provider. Since they are not restricted to the type of coverage they can buy, Squaremouth encourages travelers to look for travel insurance policies with the best coverage for the lowest price.

While comparing travel insurance policies, don’t assume a secondary policy is inferior to a primary policy. The only difference between the two is the order in which a travel insurance claim can be filed with the travel insurance provider. Primary policies allow claims to be filed directly with the travel insurance provider, eliminating any involvement of a traveler’s health insurance company, while secondary policies require filing the claim with any existing insurance before filing with the travel insurance provider.

Although a secondary travel insurance policy can require more paperwork during the claims process, travelers usually find more coverage in a secondary policy for the same value as a primary policy. However, if someone wants the convenience of only filing with one insurance provider, Squaremouth recommends buying a primary travel insurance policy. Primary policies are available from travel insurance providers including Travel Guard, Travel Insured International, Travelex Insurance Services and USA Assist.

If a traveler’s health insurance covers them overseas, Squaremouth recommends checking how much coverage is available. “If someone has a large deductible with their primary health care, they can purchase a secondary travel insurance policy to pick up any deductibles or out of pocket expenses,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth. “Secondary travel insurance policies are available with smaller amounts of medical and medical evacuation for this reason.” Choosing secondary coverage is a good way to save money on the premium without sacrificing a lot of coverage.

About Squaremouth
Squaremouth is America’s fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier. Squaremouth has web sites in the US and UK, and an extensive network of partner sites worldwide. The company is headquartered in St Pete Beach, FL., with offices in Fort Wayne, IN. Visit Squaremouth.com or Squaremouth.co.uk.

AVAILABLE TOPIC EXPERT:
Sarah Byrne
sbyrne@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 498-2866

Chris Harvey
charvey@squaremouth.com
Toll-free (800) 240-0369
Direct (727) 490-5802

U.S. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.com
U.K. travel insurance – http://www.squaremouth.co.uk