General Information Archives

Traveling Companions and Travel Insurance

Travel insurance policies cover more than just the travelers listed on the policy. Many reasons for cancellation and interruption extend coverage to family members and traveling companions. A traveling companion can be somebody that has arranged to travel with you, and only requires that the two travelers have a common itinerary showing the same dates […]

Departure and Return Dates with Travel Insurance

When obtaining a travel insurance quote, you’ll be asked to provide your departure date and return date. This helps providers calculate your effective date and the day that your coverage comes to an end. Most travel insurance policies cover from for the duration of your trip, while others will provide pre-departure benefits like Trip Cancellation […]

How late can I change my travel dates for my travel insurance plan?

It is extremely important that in the event your travel dates change, you advise your travel insurance company immediately of the change. The change must be made prior to the original scheduled departure date AND prior to revised departure date. If you forget to call with an earlier or later date, or if you call […]

Aging Parents and Travel

This article was reproduced from the TravelSafe newsletter. Aging Parents and Travel One of the most frequently asked questions at TravelSafe is “Will your plan cover me if something happens to my elderly parent?” In most cases, the answer is YES! Non-traveling immediate family members are not subject to the restrictions for pre-existing conditions. That […]

Access america travel insurance

access america travel insurance Access America provides travel insurance and assistance to millions of travelers each year and is a division and service mark of World Access Service Corp. A global leader in travel insurance and emergency assistance, Access America products provide peace of mind and financial protection against the unexpected. Our agents are available […]

The Four Stages of Culture Shock

Mary Ann Santoro Bellini, Ph.D. When a student or other individual relocates to a foreign country, he or she inevitably faces a host of emotions and reactions ranging from awe to rejection, isolation to assimilation. These emotions comprise the four stages of culture shock. Honeymoon Period While preparing to relocate and during the first days […]

Tips for Travelers with BPH (Prostate Enlargement)

Daniel L. Watson, M.D. If you are a man over the age of 50, you might have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH refers to the enlargement of the prostate gland that typically occurs with age. Most men are familiar with the symptoms: Slow urinary stream Hesitancy when starting to urinate Frequent trips to the bathroom […]

Tips for Travelers with Kidney Stones

Daniel L. Watson, M.D. Any patient with a history of kidney stones–especially those who pass stones frequently–should visit their urologist before a significant trip. Ask for a prescription for pain medication (preferably one you’ve used successfully before), even if you are not currently having pain. Fill the prescription and carry the medication with you. It […]

Travel with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Matthew Rusk, M.D. With careful planning, patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) can travel safely. Altitude One of the most important problems for travelers with congestive heart failure is altitude. In general, patients whose symptoms are poorly controlled should not travel on airplanes. All patients who have congestive heart failure should first consult their doctors […]

When Ears Have an Altitude Problem

Eliot C. Heher, MD The human body didn’t evolve to accommodate air travel at 33,000 feet. So, it’s not surprising that high altitude flying can cause a variety of physical symptoms, despite the high quality pressurization systems available on modern aircraft. In-flight ear pain is certainly one of the most common problems fliers report. Steep […]