Thursday, 19 November 2009

Affliate Program - Canadians organizations

As Bridges International has expanded travel insurance business, now we have Canadian travel insurance affiliate program. Please contact us if you would be interested in our Canadian travel insurance affiliate program. See at Affiliate for Canadian travel insurance. We provide you an affiliate page like this once you sign up.

Thank you,

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

Trip to USA is cheaper now.

Hello!

With the Strength of the Loonie - trips across the boarder just got cheaper!

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians took 3.3 million trips across the border to the US in August, up 7.9 percent from July. The average exchange rate for the month of August was around 0.91 USD. With exchange rates now even higher, on average 0.95 USD during October, trips to the US are sure to be popular this winter.

Many of your friends may be planning:

• Cross-border shopping trips
• Sun destination vacations
• Bargain getaways
• Family visits over the holidays

With more trips across the border anticipated over the coming months, take the time to remind your friends about:

• Passport regulations – since June 1st 2009, passports are a requirement at the border • Travel insurance – did you know US hospital costs can exceed $10,000 a day?

If Canadians are travelling, then travel insurance is going to be in the cards. No matter what type of trip your clients are planning. Events including the global pandemic H1N1 are increasing consumer awareness about travel insurance. Make sure to ask your clients about their upcoming travel plans. As always, I look forward to your questions and feedback.

Don't forget Canadian Travel Insurance

Thursday, 10 September 2009

Why Travel Insurance?

Hello,

Summer holidays are almost over and we're all in the process of gearing up for Fall. As the weather changes, Canadians plan different vacations. With fewer family travellers, Snowbirds become key consumers over the next few months.

Talking with this group tends to be more involved, as the large majority of Snowbirds require the completion of a health questionnaire, and many have pre-existing medical conditions. Bridges International is dedicated to making travel insurance easy for you and purchasing travel insurance easy for the clients. So whether it's a family of four or a couple in their 60's, it's easy with Bridges International.

Our system enables a quick and easy application process, saving both your valuable time. We provide all the information and support you need, so having our policies is a smooth procedure. Clients under 60 don't have to answer medical questions during the application process. Clients over 60 fill out a simple medical health questionnaire to determine rate, not eligibility

Make Bridges International your partner of choice. After all, not all plans are created equal!

Aside from our comprehensive products, our partners bring over 45 years experience and expertise specializing exclusively in travel insurance. As your travel insurance coordinator, we would be more than pleased to assist you in any way possible. We look forward to helping you travel with ease and peace of mind.

Friday, 19 June 2009

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Uncontrolled setbacks shouldn't cost your money!

That's why Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption protection is so essential. This insurance reimburses travel costs if your travel plans are cancelled prior to departure, or if you are disrupted after the trip has begun. After all, sometimes life takes over and travel plans go out the window.

Nobody can predict the future. Unexpected family or medical reasons can force you to call off, change, or even interrupt well–planned trips. Plus, there are other factors that can impact travel plans. In today's unpredictable economy, you may suddenly find yourself out of work. After losing a job, you might not be able to afford the vacation anymore. Fortunately, job loss is a covered risk under Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance(TU depends on insurance company). So you should add this important travel insurance.

Friday, 20 February 2009

Canadians Lagging Behind Worldwide Travelers for Travel Insurance

Survey results from pollsters Ipsos Reid and on-line travel community TripAdvisor published earlier this summer have found that Canadian leisure travelers are not protecting themselves while away from home. Moreover, Canadians are lagging behind travelers in other parts of the world.

Is this due to a lack of understanding of the benefits of proper travel insurance coverage, or is there more to this disturbing trend that is placing Canadians at greater risk of financial and medical hazard? It would appear that for many, Canada’s long-standing faith in the country’s healthcare system may be to blame.

Ipsos Reid polled more than 2,200 Canadians in the spring of 2008 and found that 50.1 per cent of them who travel to the US ‘always of usually’ buy travel insurance. In contrast, results from a worldwide survey of some 3,700 TripAdvisor members found that 75 per cent of worldwide respondents, and 60 per cent of US respondents, purchased travel insurance in the last year. Why such a disparity on coverage?

In part, it’s due to our mistaken belief that our existing provincial medical coverage will protect us should we need it abroad, or anywhere else in the country. Yet the reality is that our universal healthcare system only covers a fraction of any medical emergency outside of a traveler’s home province, not to mention it’s also very different from one region of the country to the next.

For example, some of the highest coverage rates for medical expenses come from the Maritime provinces, whereas some of the lowest can be found in British Columbia where residents rarely receiver more than $75 a day for emergency medical costs.

Due to these regional differences, the Ipsos Reid survey found that as many as 60 per cent of all British Columbians polled purchased travel insurance for travel to the US, whereas only 40.7 per cent of Maritimes do. As for inter-provincial travel, only 38.2 per cent of Canadian respondents said they protected themselves with additional travel coverage.

The reality is the most Canadians are not positioned to pay out thousands of dollars in hospital bills or expect to have to deal with the disappointing loss of their hard-earned vacation due to cancellations or interruptions. It’s true that some travelers feel that their employment or credit card insurance plans adequately cover them; however the truth is that most won’t cover up-front payments for things as basic as ambulance fees.

It’s important to learn the benefits of a property-protected vacation. In doing so, travelers will not only continue to turn them as their insurance experts, but they will also benefit from the peace of mind and protection that is so important when away from home.

Friday, 6 February 2009

Outdoor Adventure Travel Comes with Risks

If you enjoy activities like biking, snowboarding, sailing or backpacking, you are not alone.

A recent Canadian Tourism Commission report called almost five and a half million Canadians'soft outdoor adventure enthusiasts'. Activities that rated high withCanadians included wilderness hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing,cycling and kayaking.

During spring break many students and younger Canadians find themselves drawn to these kinds of activities in the United States and other destinations.
Of course, outdoor adventure always carries risk. Provincial medical plans cover only a fraction of medical expenses, and most foreign hospitals and doctors routinely charge thousands of dollars a day. ~We~re finding that these costs add up very quickly for travellers unfortunate enough to end up ina hospital, said Cecile Langlois, national director of claims and travel assistance for TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd.

Canadian travellers should always carry emergencyhospital and medical travel insurance. ~We cover recreational activities like skiing, hiking, camping and rock climbing, so students and travellers seeking adventure in other countries don~t have to worry about unexpected medical bills,~said Natalie Dupuis, TIC~s vice~president of product.

Students travelling witha group of three or more people and participating inamateur sport tournaments or activities can get coverage under TIC~s Group Sports Plan.

Finally, for those adventure~seekers under the age of 30 who are thinking about that big back packing trip across Europe or Asia, the YouthAdventure Package Plan makes perfect sense. Youthtravellers receive $5 million hospital and medical coverage as well as benefits covering lost or stolen baggage or trip interruption.

To learn more about travel insurance or for a complete list of products, visit Bridges International Insurance Services