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1. Research insurance you already have. Many seniors are unaware that Medicare does not provide coverage anywhere outside the borders of the United States. If your personal health insurance does cover you, call customer service or visit their website out-of-area and international claims procedures. Many companies have an international claims form. Print it and claim procedures and take them with you on trips outside the U.S.
Some homeowner’s policies offer protection for baggage loss or theft. Some credit card providers offer medical benefits or include an accidental death benefit if you charge your trip on their card. Some credit card provider's offer buyer's protection on shopping purchases. It’s critical to know what insurance protection you do and do not have.
2. Medical travel insurance covers you in the event of illness or injury during your trip and, if necessary, for medical evacuation. In developing countries, medical care is limited and you may need medical evacuation to get adequate care. Medical evacuation costs $35,000 or more on average. Check policies carefully to understand criteria for determining the need for evacuation and how evacuation claims are handled.
Published by Travel Wisdom Lynne Christen is an award-winning travel journalist, professional photographer and writing coach. As a former flight attendant and leisure travel addict, she has traveled to 47 countries around the world a... View profileIf you visit the National Safety Council’s Website, you can view your odds for dying in a multitude of different ways. It’s a bit morbid, I realize, but it really puts things into perspective regarding air travel related deaths. According to this site, there were 653 deaths in air and space travel in 2002, as apposed to 20,623 deaths in cars, trucks, and vans.
Crashes
Surviving a crash will depend greatly on where you are seated, where the plane crashes, and the height from which the plane falls. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do.
There are a few things you can do to up your chances of survival in case of a crash, however. The first is to fly non-stop when at all possible, as most crashes occur due to problems landing or taking off. Sit near an exit if possible, and know where the exits are in relation to your seat.
Know exactly how to disengage your seatbelt. Also take some time to read about the oxygen masks that fall in front of you in an emergency.
The most important thing to remember in the event of a crash landing is to get out as quickly as possible, but do not push, shove, or panic. Listen to instructions if they are being offered and leave your possessions behind. Your life, and your family are more important than anything else.
Injury
The following tips are geared towards helping you avoid injury to yourself or your fellow passengers in situations other than major plane crashes.
Turbulence is a common occurrence in air travel. Planes deal with turbulence much like cars on the road deal with wind. Just as a driver compensates when heavy gusts hit their car, a pilot compensates when they hit air pockets in the air. A plane coming down due to turbulence is almost unheard of, but it can cause injuries to passengers on the plane.
Published by Amy Mullen Amy lives in upstate New York. When she isn't writing she is encouraging her children to dream big. View profile