Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:45:50 +0200
From: "william romsay" <williamromsay@...il.com>
To: full-disclosure@...ts.grok.org.uk
Subject: Liba Cohn,
	Cruise Insurance -- What if You Get Sick on the Ship? Tips from
	Industry Expert Travel Insurance Services

Liba Cohn,   Cruise Insurance -- What if You Get Sick on the Ship? Tips from
Industry Expert Travel Insurance Services

Liba Cohn
Liba Lyustiger
Lillian Sarah Lyustiger
lillian sarah cohn
sara lyustiger
natalija lyustiger
cohn lyustiger
sarah lyustiger


Walnut Creek, CA (PRWEB) March 1, 2007 -- Cruises are great. Get on board
and enjoy the scenic ports of call, entertainment, pampering, and incredible
food. That is usually the case. But according to Travel Insurance Services,
specialists in travel-related insurance plans for over thirty years, cruise
passengers get hurt or sick often enough that they should be prepared for
the possibility. This can include having cruise travel
insurance<http://www.travelinsure.com/who/tourcruise.htm>that covers
illness, injury and medical evacuation.



A University of Texas study showed that four in 100 passengers visited
shipboard infirmaries, 18% for injuries and 69% for medical conditions. The
study found similarities between conditions that happen on cruises and those
treated at land-based emergency rooms.

More than Sunburns and Hangovers

Cruise lines do have medical care available on board, but many travelers
don't realize the variety and seriousness of conditions cruise doctors and
nurses see. Most people mistakenly think "cruise line medicine consists of
treating sunburns and hangovers," stated Sally van Boheemen, RN and Director
of Holland America Line's Fleet Medical Operations. "While those ailments
certainly do occur, they are not what keeps ships' medical centres busy."
Conditions can include traveler's diarrhea, a sprained ankle, a broken hip,
a stroke, a heart attack or something even more serious. According to the
Texas study: "The most common diagnosis was respiratory tract infection
(29%); and 11% of patients had a serious or potentially life-threatening
diagnosis."

Get Current on Your Immunizations

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states "the
diversity of passengers and crew members on a typical large cruise ship also
means diverse background in health and immunization status, medical and
public health tendencies and behavior, and potential for disease exposure."
The CDC therefore recommends that cruise travelers be up to date for their
"routinely recommended age- and medical condition- specific immunizations."

Be Sure to Have Coverage for Medical Expense and Evacuation

Passengers often need to leave a ship for medical reasons. In 2000, Holland
America Line alone had 600 medical disembarkations. Sometimes passengers can
disembark for treatment at a scheduled port or by the ship returning to a
port; but other times a specially equipped medical helicopter or air
ambulance is needed. That medical evacuation expense can range from $5,000 -
$50,000 or more, and may not be covered in a passenger's stateside health
insurance plan.

Travelers should check the coverage of their current health plan. Does it
cover them for medical expenses throughout their trip, including travel
outside their country? Does it pay for medical evacuation? If not, they
should find a short-term travel health
insurance<http://www.travelinsure.com/why/travelhealthinsurance.htm>that
will provide coverage.

Travel Insurance Services (TIS) has developed affordable cruise travel
insurance plans <http://www.travelinsure.com/> to meet these needs. Plans
like InterMedical Insurance
<http://www.travelinsure.com/what/imedhigh.htm>and Travel
Insurance Select <http://www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.htm> include
benefits for medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Each plan
also includes 24-hour, multilingual worldwide emergency assistance, that
helps to organize emergency medical transportation, provides medical care
location service, monitors medical cases, communicates treatments to
physicians back home and delivers emergency messages to family and friends.

Travel Insurance Services (TIS) is a USI Affinity Company () a division of
USI Holdings Corporation (USI). TIS is a nationwide insurance brokerage that
has met the insurance needs of travelers for 33 years. It develops, markets
and administers travel insurance and international medical policies for
individuals, families, groups and businesses. For more information about the
company and its products, visit travelinsure.com. USI is a leading
distributor of insurance and financial products and services to businesses
throughout the United States. USI is headquartered in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.,
and operates out of 66 offices in 18 states,

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