So uh, this forum is completely unmoderated now? On Jan 17, 2008 2:45 AM, william romsay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 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 that will provide coverage. > > Travel Insurance Services (TIS) has developed affordable cruise travel > insurance plans to meet these needs. Plans like InterMedical Insurance and > Travel Insurance Select 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, > > _______________________________________________ > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html > Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ >
_______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
