Travel Insurance 24

Are safaris dangerous? What happens if I get eaten by a lion? The chances of that are pretty slim, in fact you’re more likely to get eaten by a shark surfing off the coast of Australia – there are 15 attacks and one death a year apparently – but safaris are classified by underwriters as activities and as such carry their own risk. And when you start talking of risk, insurers (or their underwriters) tend to get twitchy. So are safaris any different to any other holiday? What is actually covered by your travel insurance policy?

Are safaris dangerous?

Not inherently so, but there are things to be aware of:

• Wild animals run about freely on safaris. They’

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Car salesmen are trained to sell.  They want to sell you not only a car, but an unlimited number of extra options as well.  According to Bankrate, Inc.’s article “5 costly car dealer options to skip,” Kamil Skawinski recommends avoiding certain options.  Not only will they not help get a lower Estrella Insurance quote or other car insurance, you will pretty much be wasting your money.

Rust-proofing your car is the first unnecessary option.  Most new cars today have excellent rust-proofing already and you can actually void the factory’s corrosion-perforation warranty by having your car rust-proofed by an outside source.  Skipping this service can save you anywhere from $200-$1,200.  The article recommends avoiding fabric protection services as well.  You can be charged $100 or more for this service that costs the dealership next to nothing and your vehicle really doesn’t need it.

The purchase of paint protection can cost $200, but actually shouldn’t be done on most new vehicles.  Your best bet for protecting your paint is performing regular washing and waxing duties on your vehicle.  While insurance companies like Dairyland Insurance do recommend etching your VIN number on a car window, it doesn’t seem wise to do it at the dealership.  At home kits are less than $50, but you could pay up to $300 getting it done at the dealership.

The thousands of dollars for extended warranties charged by dealerships can be avoided by purchasing a highly rated vehicle and performing its recommended maintenance.  Many experts agree that extended dealer warranties are not worth the cost if you simply take care of your vehicle.  By avoiding unnecessary options car salesmen try to offer you, you’ll save money to put towards car insurance, maintenance, or parking costs.

State insurance commissioners voted today on proposed regulations governing medical loss ratios — the new requirements under health care reform to encourage insurers to spend less on overhead and more on patient care. If insurers don’t spend enough on patient care, they could be forced to rebate a portion of premiums back to policyholders.

The medical loss ratio concept is a fine idea, but when it comes to fraud, the requirement could very well result in perverse incentives. An insurer that is out of balance with the required loss ratios could find it more profitable to disinvest in fraud prevention and just pay suspect claims. Red

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Many students are visiting other countries though both their own means and through school or university sponsored exchange programs. Traveling allows students to experience and learn about different cultures around the world, as well as gain a world perspective. Students are usually more adventurous than ordinary travelers, and they may travel to less developed countries or take part in risky adventures. As such, it is more likely that they will meet with misfortune and become sick or injured while they are traveling.

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