Posts Tagged ‘AllClear’

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Stress, stress, stress!

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Just seeing the repeated 3 words of ‘stress’ there may make you feel a little stressed. Are you feeling stressed if you are sitting there reading this at work?

Interestingly though,  a recent article has found it is the pressure of running a household that makes  us feel stressed.

Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine recruited  113 men and women in full-time work.  Each one provided details on how many hours they worked, what level of  responsibility they took on for running the home and the chores they did.  They then underwent regular blood pressure checks at a local clinic over a  three-week period, before finally wearing a blood pressure monitor for a day to  track changes at work and home.  The results showed that regardless of the amount of housework actually done,  those who felt they were shouldering the responsibility were at the greatest  risk of high blood pressure.

The findings, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine,  suggest it’s not the workload itself but the stress about how to cope with it  that causes the damage.  The strongest link with high blood pressure came from domestic chores done,  such as cleaning, cooking and shopping.  Next came car maintenance and repair, paying the bills and keeping on top of  the household budget. 

Many parents may not agree, but looking after children had no adverse effects  on blood pressure.  Men tended to become stressed by the responsibility of looking after pets, but women were not affected. 

travel insuranceI must admit, when you see this research you can understand that running a home and family can be pretty stressful.  This got me thinking about holidays. I have often said on this blog that although going on holiday itself can be (and should be) lovely and relaxing, the preparation for it is not. Packing, organising who is looking after pets, securing your house and making sure your passport is in date can all raise the stress levels. And what about sorting out your travel insurance? This can be complicated and time consuming, particularly if you have medical conditions. On the plus side, you can now use our medical travel insurance comparison site, that will save you a lot of time entering your medical details again and again on a number of websites  -you just enter your details once and then get a range of quotes from specialist insurers, so you can choose what best suits you. Do give it a go and let us know what you think of it.

If you have got a holiday booked, but are feeling a bit stressed about getting ready for it, our stressbusters tips may help.

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster | 1 Comment »

A telegram from the Queen

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
elderly or medical travel insurance comparison

More and more people could have longer to enjoy their retirement, according to official statistics

Do you know anyone who has received a telegram from the Queen because they reached 100? I do know one…

But according to the latest figures, you are likely to know a lot more because one in six will live to be 100. This means 10m people alive today will get a royal telegram, with many even surviving until 110.

Improved living conditions and medical technology are driving the dramatic changes. Modern treatments such as statins, which lower blood cholesterol, and blood pressure drugs are helping to prevent fatal conditions and increase lifespan. Better education and greater awareness of diet have helped many stay healthier. And the decline of jobs requiring heavy and risky manual work has also played a part.

The Department for Work and Pensions figures show that 17% of the population will see their 100th birthday, equal to about 10.6million people.Of these, around three million are currently under 16. Around 5.5million are between 16 and 50, and around 1.3million are between 51 and 65.  There are also about 875,000 who have already celebrated their 65th birthday and can expect to live for at least another 35 years. 

Last year there were just 11,600 people aged 100 or above, a figure which itself was more than four times that recorded 30 years before. Even over the past two years the ranks of centenarians have increased by nearly 25%. By 2066, there will be around 7,700 ‘super-centenarians’ – those who have reached at least 110.

Now this obviously raises a lot of issues in terms of supporting old people, and providing for such a long retirement….But I want to talk about another issue that this raises – that of travel insurance for the elderly, especially if they have medical conditions.

With this long retirement (a third of our lives or more) you are likely to want to go on holidays, and you are more likely to want to have the time to go away. So difficulty in finding travel insurance shouldn’t be an obstacle to that. However, unfortunately, a lot of elderly people, or those with medical conditions, often find it difficult to get the comprehensive travel insurance that they need. If you are looking for travel insurance, make sure you use a specialist provider, so you can get the insurance you need and travel with complete peace of mind. And remember AllClear Options is the first comparison site for medical travel insurance, so you can get a range of quotes here, and make sure you get the travel insurance that suits you.

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Posted in Travelling with Medical Conditions | 2 Comments »

Dealing with the VAT increase

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
VAT increase travel insurance

What does the VAT increase mean for Travel insurance?

Ok so we could be forgiven for thinking that we have settled in now to the New Year, it is mid-January after all. We are coping with the miserable weather, and the long dark days back at work. But there is one thing that we still all have to moan about, and that is VAT.

Since 4th Jan the increase has been in force, and unfortunately this applies to travel insurance too where the particular tax (insurance premium tax IPT) has increased to 20%.

But even though the price has increased, it is still as important as ever to make sure that you have adequate cover, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions. The tax may be high but remember if you don’t have comprehensive travel insurance, it could work out very expensive should you need medical treatment while abroad. So in fact, it can be a false economy, if you don’t buy travel insurance and then need medical treatment, or even lose your luggage, for example, while you are away. Having that comprehensive travel insurance allows you to travel with complete peace of mind.

 I don’t normally like writing  blog posts that are a bit gloomy, but unfortunately this one is a  bit! Still, the important thing is that if you have a holiday booked, at least you have that to look forward to!

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Tunisia Travel Advice

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

You can’t have failed to miss the news over the last week about the problems in Tunisia. We have just put this blog together to provide some travel advice for you about Tunisia, particularly if you are an AllClear customer. The situation is changing rapidly and is unpredictable but this is the current advice.

  • The most important information can be found at the FCO website. They continue to advise against all but essential travel to Tunisia.
  • If you are already in Tunisia: Register with the FCO to tell them when and where you are travelling or where you live so the consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you. You can register on the FCO website at: https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal/ or by calling: (00 216) 71 108 713. The FCO advise you to leave Tunisia by commercial means if you do not have a pressing need to be in the country. If you are using a tour operator, talk to them about your travel arrangements home. British nationals who have a confirmed flight and have not heard from their airline should check with them to confirm whether flights will leave.Whilst in Tunisia, stay away from demonstrations and large gatherings of people, public buildings (such as Government offices, the Presidential Palace).  Remain indoors if possible. 

AllClear Customers: If you are unable to return to the UK on your scheduled return date you will have the travel insurance protection afforded under the policy extended free of charge until you are able to return to the UK.

  • If your trip/flight has been cancelled: You should be entitled to a refund. Contact your tour operator/airline in the first instance. Holiday companies only have to give refunds and change trips for current bookings which are affected by the FCO advice.
  • If you want to cancel your future trip to Tunisia: Those with bookings beyond the next few days have to wait until nearer the date of their trip to find out if the FCO advice has changed. If you still want to cancel your holiday now you may be charged a fee, sometimes as high as 70% of the price of your holiday. But what about your insurance?

AllClear Customers: You will be given the opportunity to move your policy travel dates to a future trip providing it is of the same duration and similar destination – otherwise a premium “top up” may be required.

If you have any other questions about your travel to Tunisia please do ask, and we will do our very best to help you.

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Posted in Travel Health News | No Comments »

Planning a Valentines Day Surprise

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
travel for Valentines day

Planning a romantic weekend in Paris?

 

Whisking your partner away on a surprise Valentines break may seem like an extremely romantic idea for but it does not always work out that way. In reality, a two week holiday, or even a weekend break, can often be filled with problems or things that you haven’t thought about, that can spoil the trip.

Here are some tips that may be useful if you are planning a Valentine’s Day surprise. Thanks to Bukisa for some of the advice here.

  • Travel Insurance: A surprise is great but don’t forget to take out travel insurance, even for the shortest break away. Lost luggage or an accident could completely ruin the trip, but even more so if you don’t have travel insurance to cover you for the mishap.  Furthermore if the one you are surprising has a medical condition it is especially important that these are declared to your insurance provider to ensure you don’t come unstuck in the event of a claim!
  • Work Annual Leave: Obviously if you are going to be away over the weekend this is not so much of a problem ( and quite feasible seeing as Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year). But otherwise you will need to make sure annual leave is sorted out for your partner. Depending on their relationship with  their boss, you may want to contact them directly and book the leave – making sure the holiday is a complete surprise. Alternatively (especially if they are the kind of person who don’t like surprises quite that big!) just tell them the time to book off work, but don’t give any further details. The anticipation will be almost as good as a complete surprise!
  • Babysitters: Babysitters are going to be  in demand over the Valentine weekend so make sure you book yours early. Even if  you are planning on asking the grandparents or another family member, make sure you give them lots of warning, as otherwise they may have their own plans (or be looking after your brother/sister’s kids already!). A gift from the place you have visited when you come back is always a nice way to say thank you.
  • Travel dates: Think about whether or not you want to actually be traveling on Valentine’s Day. You might want to plan on either leaving after Valentine’s Day or before Valentine’s Day so you can spend the holiday relaxing together instead of traveling. Travel can be very stressful and tiring so if you want to avoid problems which may result from this, it is a good idea to plan your trip so you will not be traveling on Valentine’s Day. Plus the travel networks are likely to be decidedly busy at that time of the year – you know what it is like when you go to a restaurant on Valentine’s evening and are rushed in and out because it is just too busy – now imagine this on a train or coach!
  • Location, Location, Location: Make sure you select a location which both you and your partner will really appreciate. There may be a number of activities you enjoy as well as a number of activities your partner enjoys but these activities will not necessarily overlap. However, there are likely to be some activities which you have in common – maybe you both enjoy exploring a romantic city for example. In fact, we ran a poll near Valentines day last year and found that a city break was the most popular Valentine’s holiday, with over 50% of the vote.

Overall though, if you are planning a surprise on Valentine’s day, chances are your partner will be really pleased, even if everything does not go completely smoothly. So make sure that you have fun and enjoy!

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster | 1 Comment »

First ‘bionic’ eyes that let blind see

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

travelling with a disabilityKing’s College Hospital in London is to carry out the first operation to insert a permanent “bionic” eye which has already restored sight to blind patients, according to this article.

The team will start testing on the ‘bionic’ eye in March. This follows a successful trial in Germany where three patients were able to see again just days after being fitted with the implant. In the German trial, the chip was taken out after three months but the UK patients will have it implanted for life as scientists have developed a new coating which is safer for permanent use. The device is packed with 1,500 light sensors designed to replace those in the retina lost to the most common form of eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa. The inherited condition gradually destroys the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye, causing blindness.

About six patients will be chosen for the King’s trial by the start of February. It will then take experts a month to tailor the implant for each individual patient. Another six patients will be recruited for a trial at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

Bionic eyes have been piloted before. But this battery-powered implant is the first that doesn’t require cumbersome accessories such as a camera mounted on dark glasses. The implant is tiny –  only three millimetres square. It is fitted with sensors which trigger an electronic pulse that stimulates nerves leading to the brain enabling patients to see a rough black and white image.

The German company, Retina Implant AG, which is behind the implant hopes it will become widely available within five years. Miikka Terho was one of the first patients treated with the implant in the German trial. Completely blind before, he was able to tell the time from a clock face, read his name and correct spelling errors.

So what does this amazing new treatment mean for people? Well, according to one of the surgeons, this artificial vision could greatly enhance the quality of life for people with retinitis pigmentosa. Doctors hope it could also be used to treat blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration. This is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly and affects about 500,000 people in Britain.

At AllClear, we are pretty impressed by this treatment because although it sounds like it could be something out of a science fiction film, it really can help people who are blind change their life entirely. This is important to us because we believe that everyone deserves to travel, and experience other parts of the world, and this new ‘bionic eye’ could really help people do just that. You can read more about travelling with a disability here, or check out AllClear to get travel insurance that covers medical conditions….

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Posted in Travelling with a disability | 1 Comment »

Snow, Sport and Ski Accidents

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Well, the last few weeks in the media have been full of talk of snow (among Royal weddings, extra bank holidays and the start of the Ashes). And sure enough, today, there has been lots of snow, and everyone is talking about it!

So what do you think of the snow? Do you love it or hate it? Does it make you long for a White Christmas? Or does it make you think of going on a ski holiday?

If it is the latter, it is quite appropriate then that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have launched their winter sports cover campaign.

As British holidaymakers prepare to head for the slopes this Christmas, the Foreign Office has revealed that almost a third (31%) of people in the UK admit to not taking out travel insurance for their winter sports holidays.

You might think that cutting costs, leaving you a bit of extra cash for Christmas presents, but the problem is if you are injured whilst skiing or snowboarding, you risk huge medical bills if you are not properly insured. A helicopter ambulance and medical repatriation could cost you many times the price of your holiday. You should always get comprehensive travel insurance, and check exactly what is covered in the small print. For example, you may need extra cover if you want to ski off-piste.  

Breaking your leg in the Italian Alps could cost you over £4,000 (including medical fees and repatriation); a spinal injury in France could cost £6,400. But if you’re injured further afield or in a remote location, the cost of medical evacuation and repatriation could be even higher: for example, £23,000 for a spinal fracture in Argentina. Evacuation from the slopes, an operation and an air ambulance home from Austria can easily reach £25,000, while the costs to those suffering an injury in the US and Canada can be even higher.

Yet according to this article, 30% of skiers and snowboarders are likely to make a claim at some point of their lives during their winter sports holidays, with the majority of these being for injuries.

So what do you need to do to reduce the risks?

  • Skiing holidays are expensive but to cut insurance can be a false economy. Make sure that you have comprehensive travel insurance that includes ski cover. Remember standard travel insurance normally excludes winter sports – you will normally need to add it on
  •  Don’t make the mistake of assuming your annual travel insurance policy will automatically cover you – you need to check it includes winter sports cover.
  • Don’t just decide based on price. Check the cover options on the policy and make sure you get the cover you need:

o    Check the number of days that you are covered to ski

o    It is not just about injuries or accidents. You probably also want to check that your policy (like the AllClear one) will cover for loss or damage to equipment and reimbursement for closed pistes if this is something that is important to you

o    If you are planning additional activities like skidooing (snowmobiling) and heliskiing (skiing in areas that can only be accessed by helicopter), ice-lake diving, toboganning, or mountain climbing then check that your policy covers you for this. If you are planning on skiing off-piste, again check your cover

  • If you already have a ski holiday booked, make sure you book your travel insurance before the New Year. This is because from 4 January 2011, IPT will rise from 17.5% to 20%, in line with VAT. This makes sense anyway, because that way you are protected for cancellations as well
  • If you’re travelling to an EU resort, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card entitles you to State-provided healthcare in the country that you are holidaying in. But you still need travel insurance as well – for example the EHIC doesn’t cover you for medical repatriation back to the UK.
  • Older skiers and snowboarders may find it hard to get cover due to their age and might need a specialist insurer like AllClear
  • If you have pre-existing medical conditions, check that you are covered for these too, wherever possible
  • If you think your ski equipment has been stolen, get a police report in order to claim – and keep receipts where appropriate.
  • Make sure you understand your excess levels and can afford them
  • Remember that alcohol and altitude don’t mix! Alcohol can affect you more quickly at high altitudes and seriously limits your awareness of danger and cold. As well as putting yourself and others at risk, if you are involved in an accident whilst under the influence of alcohol your insurance cover may be invalid.

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Posted in Winter Sports | 2 Comments »

Saving money on Travel insurance before Christmas!

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat, but we know that at this time of the year our purse gets thinner and thinner. Christmas means more spending, but that really means that we want, as far as possible, to make savings wherever we can too.

Might be a bit of a shock then to know that a number of travel insurance providers are increasing their premiums over the Christmas season and in the new year. Not great for people travelling abroad to visit families then or booking a break to get over the January blues. TravelMole says the travel insurance premium increases could be around 20%.

According to Insurance Times, AXA is putting through the rate rises during the Christmas holiday season. Personal lines director Mike Keating said the size of the increase would vary, but the overall average would be in the “double-digit” zone. He cited the rising costs of medical care in Europe and America, along with fraud, as contributing to claims inflation in a market which was “historically under-priced”.

Alistair Hardie, managing director of FirstAssist, which underwrites around £85m in travel insurance, agreed that medical costs, especially in the USA, were rising steeply. He added that customers were taking more notice of their travel policies, especially since the volcanic ash problems, and were more likely to claim.

So with these threatened increases from travel insurers, you might be reassured to know then that  AllClear, just in time for Christmas spending, has actually slashed our prices in the lead up to Christmas. We are currently offering up to 20% off all AllClear travel insurance policies at www.allcleartravel.co.uk. There we go, some early Christmas cheer for you!

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster | No Comments »

AllClear is fundraising for Children In Need

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

AllClear need your help for Children in Need! Yes that time of the year is coming round again, when we get to see lots of celebrities embarrassing themselves and listen to the lilting tones of Terry Wogan, but all for a good cause! And this time AllClear Travel is getting in on the act in a big way, and you could help us out.

It’s simple really. The more people that we get to ‘like’ the AllClear Facebook page, the more money we will donate to Children in Need. We will donate £1 for every single ‘like’ that we have by Midnight on the 19th November, up to a maximum of 1000! It is a really easy way to raise money for Children In Need. So what can you do?

Well please like our page on Facebook www.facebook.com/AllClearTravel. If you are not already on Facebook, you can set up a profile here www.facebook.com. Then you can really help by suggesting the AllClear Facebook page to all your friends and family (and ask them to do the same). If everyone does this, we will reach a lot of people and so raise even more money for Children In Need.

And that is not all….If we get a 1000 or more likes we’re giving away an IPod in a Free Draw for all fans which will take place on 22nd November at Midday. We will announce the winner on 23rd November.

So please help us to spread the message out there for such a good cause

Thanks

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Posted in Charity Fundraising | 2 Comments »

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

So your exotic holiday is all booked, you have paid the deposit and you are ready to go. But wait a minute, don’t you need vaccinations for your holiday?

 Yes, it can be a bit of a pain organising your injections beAllClear Travel vaccination Appfore your holiday, but there is now a new app that does most of the hard work for you. All you need to do is detail your destination and then the app lists all the vaccinations that you might ever need. The vaccinations are listed in a traffic light system with red being recommended, yellow being sometimes recommended and with orange, the requirement for vaccination varies. Remember to also check how long before your holiday you require any jabs. I’m afraid that you actually then need to go and have the injections yourself though! Still, the app is a really quick and easy way to help you get all prepared for your holiday.

The App is created by AllClear Travel, a specialist travel insurance provider, and you can book your travel insurance using the app at the same time if you like, or speak to an AllClear advisor on a live webchat if you have any questions.

 You can  download the app here, and best of all it is completely FREE! Let us know what you think of it below.

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster | No Comments »

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