I’d wish to introduce you to Terra Baykal, Pam Langevin, and Stan Sandberg, our subsequent company within the Solo Traveler Insiders Speaker Series. On Wednesday, October twelfth they are going to be answering your entire questions on journey insurance coverage. Whether you’re an adventurer, a senior, have some particular wants or situations, or simply need to rise up to hurry on the newest info within the business we’ve assembled a group of consultants who can present the solutions to all of your journey insurance coverage questions.
I interviewed our audio system just lately, in order that you would get a quick introduction to them earlier than the occasion. I hope you get pleasure from attending to know them as a lot as I did, Read about them of their mini-profiles beneath.
Terra Baykal, Senior Marketing Manager
How did you get into the journey insurance coverage enterprise and what do you specialise in?
In 2018 I used to be wanting to get again into the journey business after working in promoting for just a few years. I discovered a place at World Nomads that was a great match given my expertise, and although I had no expertise with journey insurance coverage or this business, I dove into the chance. All my insurance coverage data has come from my time at World Nomads. A mixture of skilled coaching, insurance coverage licensing and conversations with product managers, underwriters, and actuaries. I specialise in advertising, so it’s important for me to have a deep understanding of our insurance coverage merchandise to teach clients and showcase the worth that journey insurance coverage provides vacationers.
What’s a standard mistake individuals make with journey insurance coverage?
Purchasing their journey insurance coverage too late. I’ve talked to many members of the family and associates who buy a coverage after an occasion occurs, solely to seek out out that sure advantages comparable to journey cancellation don’t apply to their scenario. Trip cancellation advantages apply to unexpected occasions, so as soon as a hurricane is known as or you might be declared too sick to journey by a physician, it’s too late to take out a coverage and have journey cancellation advantages apply to these identified occasions. I at all times urge individuals to purchase journey insurance coverage as soon as they’ve made an funding of their journey. Bake it into your buy move – flights, lodging, journey insurance coverage.
Tell us a bit about your individual travels and/or the following vacation spot in your record.
I used to be a late bloomer when it got here to journey, however as soon as I began, I used to be hooked. I’ve traveled to 16 nations throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Most just lately I spent three weeks backpacking throughout Europe by myself, assembly different vacationers and connecting with associates and colleagues that I haven’t seen for years. I are inclined to lean in direction of journey journey and am at all times trying to actions that get my blood pumping. While I used to be in Europe, I had the chance to bike by means of London, hike round Ireland, stand-up paddleboard in Spain and surf in Portugal.
Stan Sandberg, Co-Founder
How did you get into the journey insurance coverage enterprise and what do you specialise in?
My co-founder, Drew Sharma, and I began TravelInsurance.com with the target to simplify the best way individuals analysis, store for, and buy journey insurance coverage. We partnered with the highest journey insurance coverage carriers, comparable to Travel Guard, Generali, and AXA Assistance, to offer a simple and totally clear buying expertise.
What’s one thing that everybody can be stunned to find out about journey insurance coverage?
One of the extra frequent misconceptions about journey insurance coverage is which you could solely purchase it when it’s first supplied on the time you buy your airfare or inns. And when you do not buy it then, you possibly can’t purchase it later. You should buy journey insurance coverage at any time proper up till the day previous to your departure date. Timing is essential if you wish to buy a plan with a pre-existing situation exclusion waiver, or a plan that gives a cancel for any motive non-compulsory improve. Those time delicate advantages require that you just buy your insurance coverage inside a strict time-frame from whenever you make your first deposit or cost in direction of a visit. That time-frame can vary from 7 to 21 days relying on the supplier and plan.
Tell us a bit about your individual travels and/or the following vacation spot in your record.
I went to Corsica final July and located the island to be extremely stunning. It provides spectacular seashores, a mess of mountain climbing trails, and never surprisingly, superb meals. For avid hikers, I’d suggest going to Corsica both within the fall or spring when the temperatures aren’t as scorching. It’s simple to get to by means of any main European airport.
Pam Langevin, Broker
How did you get into the journey insurance coverage enterprise and what do you specialise in?
Quite by chance. I discovered about an administrative opening at Medi-Quote Insurance Brokers and after working within the administration space for a yr, I used to be approached to grow to be a dealer. I actually get pleasure from being able that gives customer support and helps individuals. In addition to offering journey medical protection to people touring for pleasure, we offer protection for college students touring overseas, guests coming into Canada, journey cancellation & interruption protection in addition to well being & dental advantages packages for people that would not have protection by means of their employer or who’ve retired.
What’s a standard mistake individuals make with journey insurance coverage?
Not correctly understanding a query on an software kind and never disclosing a medical situation. For instance, some insurance coverage corporations embody a easy hiatus hernia of their definition of a gastrointestinal situation.
Tell us a bit about your individual travels and/or the following vacation spot in your record.
I’ve been very lucky in with the ability to journey to some fantastic locations! I used to be in a position to get pleasure from Prince Edward Island, as a teen in a faculty change program, the place I fell in love with the emerald inexperienced grass in opposition to the crimson soil. In 2001, I used to be in a position to take my two boys to Churchill to see the polar bears. If that isn’t in your to-do record it’s best to add it. We had been fortunate that yr and had been in a position to see not solely the massive males, but additionally the females with cubs. Normally you solely get one or the opposite, however the ice was late and so there was a combination. In 2008, a buddy who labored as a journey agent was in a position to make a journey to Jamaica and selected me to go together with her. What an incredible place. And lastly, the final place I used to be in a position to go to was in 2019 when my husband traveled for work to Grand Cayman Island. Of course, as a dutiful spouse, I wanted to tag alongside to verify he was consuming correctly!
Join us for our October twelfth version of the Solo Traveler Insiders Speaker Series that includes Terra Baykal, Pam Langevin, and Stan Sandberg. The world of journey has modified a lot in the course of the pandemic and journey insurance coverage has by no means been extra difficult. Let our consultants assist to take the ache out of that space of journey planning in an effort to simply concentrate on being excited to your journey. Get your questions prepared! To take part in our digital chat and ask your individual questions, be part of the Solo Traveler Insiders.
Last up to date: twenty ninth September, 2022