Your airline is going to change this summer…

This busy summer travel season, with all the airline mergers and alliances, overpaid executives and frustrated employees, you need to prepare yourself, because air travel is changing right in before your eyes. Carriers are desperate to shrink their operations and bankruptcy fears are resurfacing.

Here are some of the changes to the airline industry that you the passenger should be prepared for this summer:

You could experience a whole host of new delays. Airlines trying to adhere to self-imposed passenger rights, fuel prices, and cutbacks are bound to foul up that on time arrival that you counted on. What if you miss your connection? Will you have to shell out even more money for a new flight?

With airline executives making record salaries and front-line employees’ paychecks being slashed, management has informed their workers that fuel prices have hastened the need for cost-cutting measures yet again. You will get very few sympathetic employees doing more than their absolute bare minimum. What’s more, an industry that used to see employees start careers at a young age and stay until retirement is seeing senior executives make statements such as, “We’re not looking for people to make this a career any longer, this is just a job.”

Don’t expect amenities such as a pillow or a blanket. From additional check-in bags, to aisle seating, nothing is off-limits when it comes to chargeable items. With fuel at historic levels the airlines are pulling no punches when conserving oil. This could affect you in several different ways such as no running water for washing your hands before take-off, longer wait times at the gate, and possible flight cancellations for lack of connecting passengers.


Now you might be rethinking that trip altogether, but here is a way to protect your investment and not miss out on your vacation… Trip insurance.

Check out our trip protector plan and how it works:

For a very small percentage of your trip cost, trip protector will safeguard your travel plans in case something goes wrong.
If your trip insurance is in effect for at least 14 days prior to departure, you will be covered in the event of airline default or bankruptcy. Good to have in a time when airlines are going belly up left and right and without any warning. Additionally, if you purchase trip insurance within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, pre-existing conditions are covered too.
Other coverage includes emergency medical and dental expenses, lost luggage, emergency cash, missed connection, trip cancellation and trip interruption, just to name a few.
At Insurance Services of America, we have a variety of plans to fit your needs and budget. Call one of our agents today at 800-647-4589, or click here for an instant quote or to apply online.

These are uncertain times, and a small investment in trip insurance can save you a fortune in the long run.

Are you Ready for the Summer Travel Season?

In recent weeks, thousands of air passengers have been stranded by airline bankruptcies and flight cancellations, and there may be more disruptions ahead as the economy bubbles with trouble.

So what's a traveler to do as the busy summer travel season draws near?
Pack light, know your options, and buy travel insurance.

• Susan Foster of smartpacking.com advises you limit luggage to one carry-on bag. That way, your "rebooking options are completely open".
If you must check luggage, don't do it "until you are positive that your flight is flying and reasonably on time."

• Buy trip insurance. If your trip is disrupted by flight delays or cancellations, travel insurance will cover new tickets, hotel stays and incidentals, and insurance agents can help you rebook if you're stranded.

Here’s the lowdown on the Trip Protector Insurance plan:

The Trip Protector is a travel protection plan that includes trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, medical evacuation, and other insurance coverage, as well as emergency medical transportation, travel delay, lost ticket or passport assistance, as well as critical assistance that helps you understand health and security risks and find appropriate doctors and hospitals when traveling abroad.

If you purchase the Trip Protector plan within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, even pre-existing conditions are covered!

Your vacation investment is at risk from illness, accidental injury, terrorism, financial default by your tour of cruise operator, dangerous weather conditions and more. Trip Protector covers certain non-refundable expenses should covered circumstances force you to cancel or interrupt your vacation.

Apply online at http://www.insurancefortrips.com/ or call one of our friendly knowledgeable agents at 800-647-4589

Travel Insurance is a wise investment in the peace of mind you need to enjoy your travels to the fullest.

Another Airline Folds. Why you need Trip Insurance now more than ever:

First it was Aloha Airlines, then ATA, then Skybus. American Airlines Cancelled 500 flights yesterday for maintenance.

In the course of five days, tens of thousands of passengers are left stranded, unable to get home. The others have just discovered their vacations are never going to happen.

On the Skybus Web site yesterday was a brief announcement saying the airline had ceased operations because of rising jet-fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. The note said people with reservations should contact their credit-card companies for refunds. Passengers who paid cash are just plain out of luck. One scuttled Skybus passenger said he had been quoted $2,000 for a last-minute ticket home to Ohio.

This is when you can be glad you had the foresight to purchase trip insurance.

However, as with all policies, it is important to read the fine print. Skybus insurance policies covered things such as the illness of a traveler, inclement weather, and in policies sold after March 5, airline-caused delays and cancellations. But Skybus did not include “default" — going out of business — as one of the circumstances covered by the insurance.

This is why it is also important to make sure you purchase your trip insurance from a reputable insurance company focused on getting you the most comprehensive coverage available. The kind of customer service and coverage that you will not find from an airline, cruise line, or travel agent.

At Insurance Services of America, we have trip insurance and travel medical insurance that will cover you weather your destination is Istanbul or Idaho, and everything in between. If your luggage gets lost, or you miss your connection, or if your trip gets cancelled for whatever reason, including airline default or bankruptcy, we've got you covered.

Call one of our friendly knowledgeable agents today at 800-647-4589 to find out more about this very affordable coverage. Wherever you go, we'll get you home.

Spring Break in Mexico

With its beautiful oceans, great shopping, and fantastic nightlife, Mexico is a popular destination for Spring Break travelers. If you are planning on celebrating south of the border, take a few tips from the US Department of State Travel Advisory:

While traveling in Mexico, American citizens are subject to Mexican law. An arrest or accident in Mexico can result in a difficult legal or medical situation, sometimes at a great expense to the traveler. Mexican law can impose harsh penalties for violations that would be considered minor in the United States, and U.S. citizenship in no way exempts one from full prosecution under the Mexican criminal justice system.

Excessive alcohol consumption and unruly behavior can lead to serious problems with Mexican authorities. Alcohol is involved in the vast majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, and deaths suffered by American students on Spring Break. Disturbing the peace, lewd or indecent behavior, littering, driving under the influence, drinking on the street or on public transportation, using public transportation without payment, or making obscene or insulting remarks are all considered criminal activities by Mexican authorities. The importation, purchase, possession or use of drugs can incur severe penalties, including imprisonment without bail for up to a year before a case is tried, and imprisonment of several years following a conviction. All individuals 16 years of age or older are tried as adults.

Warning flags on beaches should be taken seriously. If black or red flags are up, do not enter the water. Strong undertow and rough surf are common along beaches throughout Mexico, especially on the Pacific coast, and drownings have occurred when swimmers have been overwhelmed by conditions. Do not swim in pools or at beaches without lifeguards.
Use only the licensed and regulated "sitio" (SEE-tee-oh) taxis. Hotels, clubs and restaurants will summon a sitio taxi upon request.

Oh yeah, and when eating in the restaurants, watch your fingers, those plates are hot!

Now that you have taken all the steps to ensure your safety while in Mexico, it’s time to take care of one major precaution before you leave for your trip.

Make sure that you are covered in case you get sick, lose your luggage, require medical attention for the burned fingers from the hot plates, or need to be evacuated.

Insurance Services of America has a variety of plans to fit your travel needs as well as your budget. Give us a call at 800-647-4589, and let one of our friendly knowledgeable agents help you choose the plan that is right for you.

Viva La Spring Break!

Alternative Spring Breaks

DEDICATE YOUR WEEK TO RESTORING HOPE TO THOSE IN NEED

Forget about the parties, drinking and debouchery of Spring Breaks past. A growing trend in Spring Break travel is the Alternative Break Experience. Last year, an estimated 36,000 students dedicated their Spring Break week to things like rebuilding communities devastated by hurricanes, improving the quality of child care centers, and building ramps to provide people with disabilities a safe means of leaving and returning to their homes.

Wheather you're providing citizens in Venezuela with electricity and clean water, or helping impoverished communities closer to home, Insurance Services of America has a plan for you.

Call one of our friendly knowlegable agents to see how affordable it can be to cover your health, personal belongings, and travel plans so you can enjoy your Alternative Spring break experience.

As you spend your week taking care of others, let Insurance Services of America make sure you're taken care of too!

Give us a call at (800) 647-4589 for a quote.

Have a safe and memorable Spring Break Experience!

Tips For Traveling Abroad

Planning a trip overseas?

Take some tips from the United States Department of Travel:

Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov/. This will help them to contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

Check your overseas medical coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation.

Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care abroad can be expensive, and medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000. Note that U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security Medicare and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.

At Insurance Services of America, we can provide you with comprehensive overseas medical coverage, including hospital stays, dental emergencies, trip interruption, evacuation and repatriation, and much more. Call Adam or Mark at 800-647-4589 to answer any questions you might have. You can even apply online and print out your ID cards on the spot.

International Adoption~ Something To Be Thankful For

November is Adoption Awareness Month, and a great time to think about the multiple trips you'll be taking overseas if you plan to adopt internationally.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there were more than 22,000 international adoptions in 2006, with those numbers increasing every year.


We at Insurance services of America know first hand about International Adoption. Our staff and their families consist of adopted children from Korea, Russia, Japan, and Turkey. We've been there, and we will be there for you.


Give us a call at 800-647-4589, and let us know about your travel plans. We can help find the best plan and rates for your International travel insurance needs, so you can concentrate on what is really important, bringing your family home.



Oh, and be sure to ask us about our own internationally adopted children, we love to brag....