Off-Piste And Heli-Skiing - Why You Need A Specialist Travel Insurance Company

Backcountry skiing, such as off-piste and heli-skiing, is a growing sport worldwide. Attractive to those who want a more adventurous holiday than your standard tourist activities, this sport provides an adrenaline filled adventure in some of the most scenic locations in the world. But for those intending to venture into the world of adventure tourism, finding a travel insurance company that provides a suitable policy can be difficult. This article explains a bit about backcountry skiing and explains why you need to have an insurance policy that is tailored specifically to meet your requirements.

Backcountry skiing takes you away from the patrolled and groomed slopes of traditional ski resorts and allows you to ski unmarked slopes with natural contours and features. Most extreme skiers engage in backcountry skiing because it is viewed as more challenging than traditional skiing. An increasing number of ski resorts support this form of skiing because the sport hasgrown in popularity.

One of the most common types of backcountry skiing is called off-piste. Off-piste refers to skiing that does not stay on groomed trails but sometimes follows alongside a marked trail (piste). In some countries off-piste is the name for all backcountry skiing that takes place on unmarked slopes i.e. off-piste. Particularly popular in places such as Canada, Japan and the United States, this type of skiing includes skiing in unpatrolled areas and sometimes onto avalanche risk slopes.

Heli-skiing is for those backcountry skiers who want to travel even further from the beaten path and explore pristine and sometimes untouched areas. Travelling by helicopter, skiers are dropped off in unmarked mountainous areas with natural terrain and long descents on fresh powdery snow. Heli-skiing is the ultimate experience for the adventurous skier, starting in the 1960's this sport is now popular worldwide.

While exhilarating, this type of sport is also filled with dangers that on-piste skiers do not usually encounter. Difficult terrain and unmonitored slopes mean accidents are frequent and sometimes even extreme events will occur such as avalanches. Additionally, what many tourists do not realise is that the medical costs in popular ski destinations such as Japan or Canada are among the highest in the world. Therefore it is important that people undertaking this activity are adequately covered by their insurance policy - should the unexpected happen.

When you are considering adventure travel, you need to find a specialist travel insurance company that understands your need and has policies to cover your trip. High risk activities such as off-piste skiing are often excluded from standard leisure travel insurance policies.

Before committing to purchasing a travel insurance, you need to ask the insurer whether they will cover medical costs associated with off-piste skiing; also whether this would extend to emergency evacuation off the slopes; and whether search and rescue costs would be covered. Many high risk travel policies will cover the medical and evacuation costs, but search and rescue costs are not covered. You should also consider that if you do break a leg or similar while skiing, you would not only be looking for medical cost cover, but it is likely that you may also have to change/upgrade your return ticket home which would incur further expenses.

Going Solo? Individual Health Insurance

If insurance is all about planning for uncertainty, then a health insurance plan must be on top of your checklist.

You make plans for your future. You save up to buy a new car, a new house, or go on a vacation. Then suddenly you fall sick or have an injury and are in need of hospitalisation. The medical bills burn a hole in your pocket and your savings are diminished. It is common knowledge that medical expenses are constantly on the rise. In times like this it is important that we have an insurance plan to safeguard our savings and our plans.

Injury and illness is unpredictable, one minute you may be the picture of health and the next you may need medication or hospitalisation. The rise in expenses - health and otherwise is definite and constant. With the constant rise of inflation, medical expenses are also on the rise. Having a health plan that will rise with the times and keep you at par for medical expenditure is a smart move.

When an individual gets a medical insurance plan he is assured that his health will be taken care of. Most hospitals are covered by health insurance companies so the person can be sure to get the best treatment for his illness. Health insurance works in two ways - a person has to pay the bills himself and the get refunded by the insurance company on presenting the bills or a person can avail cashless facility. Most hospitals are covered with cashless facility meaning the person has a card to show his insurance details and he can be treated at the hospital with paying anything from his pocket and the insurance company will cover his bill.

A medical insurance plan also works as an investment as an individual can also get tax deduction of up to Rs. 15000 according to the Income Tax Act of 1961 under section 80D.

The cost of an individual health insurance policy depends upon various factors like, the age of the person covered by policy, individual or family floater, medical history of the individual, number members covered, average age of the family protected as well as past claims created by the person covered by insurance.

While taking an individual health insurance, it would be better if you are aware of all the inclusions and exclusions of the insurance plan. A handy list of network hospitals and good knowledge of the claim settlement process will help you take the optimum benefit from your health insurance policy in testing times.

Two Unique Ways to Cut Your Life Insurance Premium Expense

Life insurance, as we all know, is important to protect one's family against financial difficulties should the breadwinner meet with an unfortunate eventuality. Further, among the various types of plans available, 'Term Policy' is the most economical and the most convenient policy to achieve that objective. (In many cases, you can safely ignore the more expensive and inflexible 'Permanent Life' plans).

Nonetheless, even though it is the cheapest option, there are a couple of unique ways that can help you in further reducing the total premium out-go.

1. Restructuring your policies

Depending on your age, such policies would normally have a term ranging for 10 to 30 years. However, you need not stick to the same plan for the entire tenure. Since term policies do not accumulate any cash value, you lose nothing if you do not pay further premiums and let the policy lapse.

Insurers revise the policy premiums rates from time to time. Increased longevity is one the common reasons for reduction in life insurance premiums. Or higher competition could compel insurers to trim down their premium rates. Therefore, if after a few years, you are getting the same cover at a lower cost, you can always close the old policy and start a new one.

Caution: First buy a new policy and then close the old one.

2. Buying multiple policies

Instead of one policy for the total Sum Assured, spread your cover over two or three policies. Suppose you desire a cover of $500,000 to insure the day-to-day living expenses of the family. Then buy two policies for $150,000 cover each and one for $200,000 cover.

As years go by and you keep building your retirement/investment corpus, your need for insurance will progressively reduce. Thus, you can keep closing your policy one by one and save on premium costs.

Further, buy separate term policies to cover your mortgages. Don't club them with the policy that covers your living expenses. This would enable you to close them as soon as the mortgages are paid off and thereby reduce the total expenses on premium payments.

The aforesaid strategies will substantially cut down the total premium that you would be liable to pay over the entire term.

These strategies are, of course, over and above the various standard conditions to be eligible for a lower premium viz. if you buy your policy at an early age, if you are a non-smoker, if you lead a healthy life-style etc.

Who Can Benefit From No Credit Car Loans

If you go to a bank to borrow money, the first thing they will check is your credit. They will usually only loan money to people who have a good credit history. This is their normal business practice. If you need money to buy a car, you do not have to deal with the idea of going through a credit check. The emergence of no credit car loans is allowing many people who did not think they car to drive away from the car dealership.

Unless you are an individual with experience in the financial sector you may not understand what this type of loan is. These loans were created because there is a demand for the product. Borrowers who do not have a good credit score still want to buy cars. If they can find someone to lend them the money they need to buy the car they want, they will take advantage of it.
Before you take advantage of these loans you need to understand what they are, how they work, and whether it is the right product for you.

What they Are

The loans for people with bad credit are designed to appeal to people who have struggled with credit in the past. They may have missed payments, been late on payments, o0r declared bankruptcy. The lenders realize that these loans can be risky, but are willing to take that risk. The borrowers are the ones that are in power in this market. There is plenty of competition between the lenders to get an individual’s business with their no credit car loans.
How they Work

The lenders do not take the risk of these loans lightly. They charge a higher interest rate because they need to make sure they earn enough to cover the people who default on the loans. They also have certain criteria that each applicant must meet before they are able to get the loan.

An applicant must have a job and have held it for at least 3 months. The applicant will have to show proof of income, proof of residency and must have a driver’s license to get one of these loans. All of these steps are designed to reduce the risk associated with these loans.
Lenders will often impose fees when payments are missed and if the loan is not paid for, they will repossess the vehicle. A borrower should know that in Canada, a car that has been at least 2/3 paid for, cannot be repossessed. The lender can only sue for the balance that is due.

Are they Right for You

That is a question that each individual needs to answer for themselves. The loans can help people in several ways. You can get a car if you need it that is reliable instead of a cheap car that you have the money on hand for. You can rebuild your credit by paying for the loan on time. It is something that you will have to balance against the cost of borrowing the money for a car. The no credit car loans will help a lot of people, but they are not for everyone.

How to Apply for Accident Cover

Accident insurance is for the unexpected and protects against losses in the event the policy holder suffers a serious injuries or accidental deaths. Leading Australian insurance companies guarantee that adults’ ages 18 to 69 years are automatically accepted when they apply to obtain accident cover. This is a much easier insurance to obtain and one that offers Australians and their families the protection they require.

When comparing policies a “guaranteed renewal” policy ensures the insured the policy will remain valid provided they keep up with their premiums, or until the policy expires or they choose to cancel it. Accident insurance can be purchased in different amounts. Families with medical, health and disability and one or two children may not need as much as a family with many children. Policies can be purchased in various amounts which usually start around $50,000 and go as high as $1 million dollars.

How to Apply for Accident Cover

1. Start online. The Internet is the best source for accident cover and insurance providers work with third party insurance websites to offer the best rates possible. This is simply because the provider does not have the work involved and the savings is passed onto the customer.
2. Request a free quote. When you submit for a free quote from the third party insurance site, you will receive multiple quotes from leading Australian insurance providers within the industry offering their best rates. It is your duty to disclose all information they ask for honestly or you may end up with a different cost when you purchase the insurance, or future claims may be rejected. The quotes will arrive to your email box within a matter of minutes to hours.

3. Shop and compare. When you receive the quotes, then you can shop and compare the various quotes in your leisure. Here, it is important that you thoroughly understand the policies. Not all policies will have the same amount of coverage, nor will they cover the same accidents. Some policies will cover many more accidents than other. Policies may also have exclusions, so it is necessary to read the fine print. Most insurance providers do not require tests such as blood work and medical exams prior to accepting new applicants.

4. Purchase your insurance coverage. Accident insurance can be purchased online. When you receive your quote, you are being quoted a price for the coverage. If you do not have questions or concerns, you can purchase the insurance online. If there is something you would like to discuss, you can call the customer service number to discuss your matters. If you are ready to purchase, you can purchase the insurance online without hassle.

There are a number of leading Australian insurance providers within the industry who offer accident insurance. Accident insurance is an insurance that provides protection over and above other coverage policy holders’ may have and provides a lump sum payment so that the insured has the financial security they require during a difficult time.