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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/31/2020 in all areas

  1. I may have posted this on here before…I have an annual global travel policy with Allianz. It does cover Covid-19, but new such policies do not. And the new policies are costing approximately double the price I paid earlier. With no disrespect to what others have posted, I don’t see the “problem” as being the cost of whatever medical treatment is needed. With hospitals in Brazil being under such pressure, I would guess that it may be very difficult to access private treatment no matter what you can afford. Of course, this issue applies to other countries too. In South Africa, where first-world health care is available if you can pay, part of the private healthcare sector has been effectively nationalized (as the State-run healthcare system had too few ventilators). I will remain wary of travelling outside of the developed world (and its good healthcare systems) for some time, even if national governments open their borders.
    3 points
  2. On one hand, I agree with @msclelovr and I feel I should refrain my impulse to go South as soon as possible. On the other hand, this is a unique time for traveling. Visiting the places that are normally overrun by tourism would now be a radically different experience. In that corner, my survival instinct pushes me to stay locked down at home; in this corner my curiosity and adventurous spirit want to travel. I think my adventurous spirit is getting old and tired and losing the fight.
    2 points
  3. AFAIK healthcare in an emergency in Europe has always been available to foreign visitors. But it has never been and is not generally free. In the EU, citizens and legal migrants are registered for and carry a European Heath Insurance Card. I have one myself; if for instance I need medical attention in Spain, I must produce the card to get free treatment. If I do not have it with me, I am presented with a bill; I can later claim a refund from the central authority. Some private hospitals in Spain not only require you to produce the card but also a credit card to pay the supplemental expenses that the State will not reimburse. In the UK, citizens and legal migrants benefit from the National Health Service (NHS) with all treatments and drugs being free. Foreigners were generally treated for free after an accident/emergency and a bill was sent later - the overwhelming majority of foreigners never paid. Also it became clear after some years that foreigners were visiting the UK specifically to get free treatment for their conditions - the resultant controversy led to a slogan that the NHS is not an InterNational Health Service. This has now caused hospitals to check first that you are entitled to use the free services.
    1 point
  4. vinapu

    Moonlight Gogo Bangkok

    so did I around the same time and need to stand to Mr Fluke's defense, certainly no photoshopping IMNSHO
    1 point
  5. I second this emotion. Also, many of us do not travel with a support system similar to what we may have at home. Power-of-attorney for finances, care, etc, advocacy in the foreign locale, etc. Having had a bad case of dengue fever in South America, I can attest that it is hell-ish to be on your own with a spiked body temperature and other debilitating symptoms.
    1 point
  6. Insuremytrip.com They offer coverage Travel Insurance & Coronavirus Last updated on 04/29/2020 We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and emails from customers over concerns due to COVID-19. We apologize for any delay in communication and are working to respond as soon as possible. If you have questions about an existing policy, please reach out to your insurance provider for assistance. Does Travel Insurance Cover the Coronavirus Pandemic? On January 21, 2020, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a named event, which affects the travel insurance coverage available for new policies purchased. For those purchasing travel insurance AFTER 1/21/2020 (exceptions may apply if traveling to a country with a Travel Health Notice issued by the CDC) benefits included in comprehensive coverage may apply in the following unforeseen scenarios: Emergency Medical Coverage: a sick traveler must see a doctor and/or go to the hospital during a trip. Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage: in rare cases, a sick traveler requires an emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate hospital or back home for recuperation. Trip Interruption: an extremely sick traveler cannot continue with a trip and must return home. Cancel For Any Reason: Currently, if you are looking for trip cancellation coverage because you are concerned about the coronavirus, you will now need to purchase a plan that includes Cancel For Any Reason since the travel warnings are now foreseen. This benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify. Some plans may exclude epidemics/pandemics and may not provide coverage for related issues. Please be sure to read the plan details carefully before purchasing. Remember that travel insurance helps to cover unexpected events. Similar to a weather event, once an event becomes a "known" event, it may not be a covered reason for cancellation if a traveler purchases insurance after that date. Trip Interruption and Cancel For Any Reason are not available to non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents. For travelers who purchased a policy BEFORE 1/21/20 and need to make a claim or have questions about how your existing policy will cover you, please reach out to your insurance provider. Travelers can read further on how to file a travel insurance claim here. My Trip was Canceled by My Travel Supplier. Can My Travel Insurance be Refunded? Unfortunately, travel insurance is non-refundable after the review period listed on the policy (usually 10-14 days from the purchase of the plan). However, in typical situations, many insurance providers will offer to transfer your policy to a future trip. How is International Travel Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak? There are confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) widespread across the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus outbreak constitutes a pandemic. Because of this, many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little notice in advance. In the United States, the Department of State has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory and recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. Airlines have canceled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations. Presidential Proclamations from March 11 and March 14 of 2020 restrict travel to the United States from foreign nationals who have recently been in certain European countries including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. On March 8, 2020, U.S. State Department issued a Travel Alert stating that "U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship." Those still planning to cruise should be aware that this is a dynamic situation and they may be impacted by travel restrictions affecting their itineraries or ability to disembark, or may be subject to quarantine procedures implemented by the local authorities. Many cruise lines have canceled operations. How is Coronavirus Spread? The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly spread person-to-person, or from contact with infected surfaces or objects. This is based on knowledge about similar coronaviruses. The virus (SARS-CoV-2) becomes airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and respiratory droplets produced can travel up to six feet. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or can possibly be inhaled. A person can also get the disease by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. The virus seems to be highly contagious and community spread in some affected areas. This information is changing as more is learned about the virus so travelers are encouraged to check the CDC website for the most up-to-date information. Why is Coronavirus Dangerous? The coronavirus, sometimes written as "corona virus," is a highly contagious, pneumonia-causing illness that infects the respiratory system. Symptoms can include a fever and cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia, which causes shortness of breath and difficulties breathing. Symptoms of this disease may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. The situation is evolving as more information becomes available. For the latest information, refer to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How Can I Prevent Contracting Coronavirus? Being proactive is the best method of prevention - wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands, and avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, prevent the spread of illness by staying home, avoiding contact with others, cleaning surfaces and objects with disinfectant, and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze. There are currently no vaccines available. Please refer to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest information on prevention. What If I Get Sick While Traveling? If concerned about contracting the coronavirus while traveling, medical coverage options are available. We are in constant communication with our providers, and have confirmed they will continue to cover travelers who need medical care due to COVID-19. Travel medical insurance is offered either as part of comprehensive travel insurance plans or can be purchased as a stand-alone plan. These plans only offer coverage while traveling outside of your home country. Before purchasing emergency medical coverage, we strongly recommend that you first contact your regular health insurance provider to inquire about global benefits and how your benefits apply when you are outside of your home country. Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage provides transport assistance in the event that you become seriously ill or injured while traveling. Generally, these plans provide emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate care facility if the assistance company and the physician feel you’d be better suited at a different facility. Trip Interruption Coverage is included in travel insurance comprehensive plans. It’s a benefit that offers travelers reimbursement of their pre-paid, non-refundable expenses should they unexpectedly need to cut their travels short. However, there are exclusions for this, so be sure to review your policy carefully. Travelers with specific questions about coverage should contact our Customer Care team at 800-487-4722 for assistance in finding the right coverage for their unique travel plans. What If My Travel Supplier Goes Out of Business? The impact of the coronavirus goes beyond medical as concern grows over the long term financial impact on the travel industry. Travelers may consider seeking financial default coverage as a precautionary measure in the event their travel supplier becomes financially insolvent. This specific coverage is already included in many comprehensive travel insurance plans and is designed to help travelers in the event their travel supplier has stopped business operations due to financial reasons. Usually, airlines, cruise lines, and tour companies are the kind of suppliers whose financial default would be covered under your travel insurance plan. Financial default coverage reimburses in-full only if you are unable to make alternate arrangements to continue with your travel plans. If you’re able to book another flight, for example, your benefits would then be adjusted according to the specific terms of your policy. This benefit is time-sensitive and the time period varies by plan and provider. Review your policy carefully or call our Customer Care team with questions about this type of coverage. Coronavirus & Cruises - Common Traveler Questions On March 8, 2020, the U.S. State Department issued a Travel Alert stating that "U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship" due to the increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise environment. The situation remains fluid. Passengers with cruise travel already booked should contact their travel supplier for the latest information and their position on this statement. Some cruise companies, such as Royal Caribbean, are allowing cancellation up to 48 hours before sailing. Travelers who choose to cruise may consider travel medical insurance for their trip. If I get sick and quarantined on a cruise ship, does travel insurance cover me? Possibly. Companies have different requirements for what is considered "quarantined", so it is important to read your policy or call to clarify coverage. If I'm not sick and quarantined on a cruise ship, does travel insurance cover me? Possibly. Like cruisers who get sick and are quarantined, those who are not sick but are still quarantined are subject to the same guidelines as defined by the provider and policy. If I get sick with coronavirus on a cruise ship, will travel insurance help evacuate me? It is extremely rare for travel assistance companies to arrange for evacuation off of a cruise ship. Typically, you have to be hospitalized first and the assistance company will work with the attending physician to arrange transportation to another hospital, or back home if required. If I get sick with coronavirus on a cruise ship, who pays my medical bills? If a traveler gets sick on a cruise ship and requires medical care, he or she may be able to file a claim with their travel insurance company to request reimbursement. It is important to keep all receipts and detailed documentation related to medical care received while on your trip. If my cruise line cancels a cruise due to coronavirus, does travel insurance cover me? Cancel For Any Reason selected, they may be able to be refunded a portion (typically 50-75%) of their insured pre-paid non-refundable trip cost if the cruise line cancels the cruise prior to departure and they decide to cancel their entire trip. Cancel For Any Reason is a time-sensitive benefit with some eligibility requirements, and you must cancel at least 2 days prior to departure. What if I'm afraid to go on an upcoming cruise due to coronavirus? Coverage is very limited, as typical travel insurance policies don't cover fear of travel. If the traveler has purchased a plan with optional Cancel For Any Reason selected, they may be able to be refunded a portion (typically 50-75%) of their insured pre-paid non-refundable trip cost if there is fear of traveling due to coronavirus prior to departure. Cancel For Any Reason is a time-sensitive benefit with some eligibility requirements, and you must cancel at least 2 days prior to departure. Additional Travel Advice for Coronavirus Stay informed of the latest information on the Novel Coronavirus by referring to: World Health Organization U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention U.S. State Department Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions, and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.
    1 point
  7. speeddagger1

    Kiev Ukraine ?

    Nowadays you can find a lot more cute Ukranians boys in Poland than in Kyiv.
    1 point
  8. Lucky

    Bit more Baldwin

    Why?
    1 point
  9. Jasper

    Moonlight Gogo Bangkok

    Dreamboys open 1 July Jupiter open 2 July
    1 point
  10. Astounding! Thanks for the detective work @TotallyOz This reminds me never to react when I read some strange or very provocative post: some people just like to be trolls.
    1 point
  11. I’m getting close to writing year 2020 off. Indeed all foreign travel from U.K. seems impossible and not worth the potential hassle. My long term plan at the start of the year was 3 weeks in Thailand in January/February. The same in July/August and maybe a longer trip in November. I’m thankful I got the first one in providing me with a number of happy experiences. The lockdown started very soon after my return home.
    0 points
  12. more and more our forum looks like obituary pages for gay fun
    0 points
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