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Medical Travel Insurance

We recommend iTravelInsured for your medical travel insurance.

Yes, you do need travel insurance

By Bill Dismore, Executive Vice President, iTravelInsured

Travel insurance is not a waste of money – just ask any traveler who cancelled a trip or had a medical emergency in a foreign land. Although some forms of travel insurance may be unnecessary, many travelers really need at least trip cancellation and medical coverage.

Certainly some travel insurance duplicates coverage you already have but the fantasy that consumers are likely to receive refunds from suppliers when they cancel a trip—is just that, a fantasy that won’t come true. Some travel suppliers may offer a refund or a voucher if a trip is canceled by a natural disaster such as a hurricane or an earthquake, but be aware that far more trips (90%) are canceled because of sickness or accident, and you won't get refunds for those.

  • Many big-ticket travel purchases require full prepayment, often months in advance; many of those impose substantial cancellation penalties or even total forfeiture, especially if you cancel shortly before departure.
  • Any time you face a penalty or loss that's more than you can comfortably walk away from, consider travel insurance. Don't figure a good excuse will get your money back.
  • Other perils may cause you to cancel your vacation. Travel insurance can provide coverage if you cancel due to a death in the family, a terrorist act that occurs near one of your destinations, a travel supplier bankruptcy, an organized labor strike, a natural disaster, medical quarantine, call to serve on a jury, primary residence is rendered uninhabitable by fire, windstorm or flood, involvement in a traffic accident enroute to a departure point, loss of employment and more.
  • As to medical expenses, some ordinary health/medical policies, including HMOs, do cover you while you're away from home, even outside the United States. But many don't, and even when they do, you may have a stiff deductible or co-payment penalties. Check your health insurance plan.
  • Medicare never covers foreign travel, and the foreign-travel benefits of Medicare supplement policies "C" and higher are limited: 80 percent of emergency medical treatment costs, with a $250 deductible. Seniors dependent on Medicare who travel outside the United States should, therefore, consider the emergency medical coverage. Credit cards may provide some very limited travel assistance services, but always read the fine print so that you understand what you have.

    • Travel insurance includes emergency travel assistance services that are invaluable if you suffer an emergency while traveling abroad. Would you know which doctor, clinic or hospital to go to in a foreign country? Do you know how to replace a lost passport? Who would you call to arrange for medical transportation of a seriously ill relative back home? Yes, travel insurance is worth the cost, just ask those that travel often.

    If you are interested in obtaining more information or a quote visit iTravelInsured located in the Miscellaneous Market section of our website.

    GMAC Insurance Completes Purchase of Agent Alliance Insurance Company

    Acquisition of Private Passenger Auto Insurance Company Grows North Carolina's Largest Writer of Auto Insurance through Independent Agents

    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (September 1, 2011) – GMAC Insurance (GMACI) completed the acquisition of Agent Alliance Insurance Company from Mobile, Alabama, this past Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Agent Alliance, which is currently marketed through InsTrust Insurance Group, is a private passenger auto insurance company that has been writing policies exclusively in North Carolina since 2007. The acquisition builds on GMACI’s position as the #1 writer of private passenger auto insurance through independent agencies in NC.

    “We want to welcome Agent Alliance into our corporate family,” said Larry Pentis, President and CEO of GMAC Insurance. “As North Carolina’s largest writer of personal auto insurance through independent agencies, we can assure all Agent Alliance customers and agencies that every employee of our company is dedicated to providing exceptional service that more than 300,000 North Carolina customers of GMAC Insurance have come to enjoy and expect.”

    By combining the success of Agent Alliance’s business with GMACI’s strong performance and longevity in the industry, GMACI will continue to offer unmatched service and convenience for its agents and their customers. “Bringing together the success of Agent Alliance with GMAC Insurance’s nationally acclaimed claims service, innovative products and competitive pricing will enable us to offer our North Carolina agencies and policyholders more value than ever before,” said Rick Pierce, CPCU, AAI, Vice President and General Manager of the Carolinas for GMAC Insurance.

    For more information about GMAC Insurance or to find a local independent agent, call 877-468-3466, or visit www.gmacinsurance.com

    About GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Group

    Formed in 1939 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Group is represented by more than 10,000 independent agencies and brokerages throughout the United States. GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Group offers property and casualty products, including personal auto, RV, motorcycle, commercial auto and more. With a nationwide network of claims professionals and a 24-hour, toll-free claims hotline available 365 days a year, GMAC Insurance provides superior claims service for its customers.

    For Flood Policies - Think AmeriFlood
    AmeriFlood, has revamped their flood insurance for member agents effective 08-01-11, and will offer 17% commission rate to member agents, once the coverage has been bound. AmeriFlood will have a link imbeded on PIANC website that agents will need to use to process the flood applicant's information with AmeriFlood on line. This will be effective August 1, 2011.

    AmeriFlood is underwritten by a WYO Company. AmeriFlood will rate and issue the flood policy for you. There are no fees involved. Don't get caught with an E&O Flood claim. If your agency only writes a few flood policies a year, then AmeriFlood is the flood Company for you. All AmeriFlood applications are submitted on line and policy financing is available. AmeriFlood is one of the largest writers of Flood Insurance in the USA. www.ameriflood.com, 1-800-ameriflood When you write a flood policy, think AmeriFlood and PIANC.

    Annual CPSR Update
    For those that have the CPSR Designation, please click here for your Annual CPSR Update Form, complete and mail to NFCPSR.

    Farm owners Policy and Animal Mortality Insurance Coverage:
    For those agents that need a market for Farm Owners & valuable Animal coverage, go to Livestock Mutual website or call the 1-800# listed. Livestock Mutual will write Farm Owners and especially Animal Mortality on Equine (Valuable Race Horses including thoroughbreds and other horses, Paso Finos, Tennessee Walkers etc.), Alpacas, Exotic Animals (Camels, Zebras, Giraffes and other exotics), Cattle (High priced bulls, cows, herds). Livestock Mutual is licensed in most states and has E & O through Utica Mutual. Call 1-866-586-7978, prose@livestockmutual.com or visit their website at www.livestock mutual.com.

    Need a market for Excess Flood Insurance on Commercial Risk and Habitational Property
    then go to www.nasinsurance.com. Another member benefit from PIANC.

    www.appund.com

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    Professional Insurance Agents of North Carolina   PO Box B, Henderson, NC  27536

    877.401.6822   Penny.Rose@piaofnc.com    or    877.987.4262  Jim.Kennedy@piaofnc.com