5 Ways to Deal Travel Insurance

Before you go on a holiday it is necessary that you buy a travel insurance to make your great holiday experience safe. You need to be sure you have the right travel insurance for the destination you are heading, and know precisely what is in your travel insurance policy. Otherwise you could pay a huge financial penalty if things go horribly wrong.

A few tips to help you to understand your policy better and get the best deal:

1.Benefits matter: Comparing the quotations of the of travel insurance products is not just enough. Compare also the benefits of the cover, the exclusions on the cover and other product features. It's useful to have a 'cooling off' period, in which you are able to decide whether or not the policy really meets your needs. If the policy doesn't have a cooling off period you can cancel your policy for a full refund.

2.Plan it well : If you are planning to travel abroad on more than a single occasion in a year then you can save more money by buying an annual multi-trip - travel insurance policy rather than buy a single travel insurance policy each time you go.

3.Check the other options: Sometimes your travel agent or tour operator may tell you that you have to buy their travel insurance in order to buy a holiday from them, maybe as part of an inclusive deal. Only take this if the total cost is rewarding, compared to buying the holiday and travel insurance separately. In most cases you will probably find that you are paying over the odds for the travel insurance, even if it is in some sort of 'special deal'.

4.International helpline: Carry the international helpline number of your travel insurance company with you as you. Also, keep a copy of the policy with you, as you travel. .

5.Medical coverage: Don't think twice in order to consider a medical coverage while traveling to another country. In most cases it is always best to take the medical insurance, even if you are going to a country with an E111 agreement. This agreement helps in cases of emergency, but does not generally cover routine problems. It is also especially important if you're in a developing country with limited medical resources.

Before you get your travel insurance make sure you understand your travel insurance well. Read the offer document carefully. Take the time to read the small print on your travel insurance policy. If you have any questions on it, ask your provider about them before you finalize the deal. If the policy is family oriented be sure that it covers all the family members traveling with you. Buying duplicate coverage does not double your benefit. It wastes money and creates confusion that could actually delay payments.

Book travel insurance directly after booking your holiday, so that you are covered for cancellation. Make sure you know the insurer's terms for cancellation though. You may be able to lower your travel insurance premiums by purchasing join cover if you are traveling as a couple.

Understand the different policies for different travelers. There are single-trip travel insurance, annual, backpacker travel insurance, worldwide travel insurance, ski as well as winter sports travel insurance along with other specialty travel insurance policies.

California Health Insurance Options

California has many different health insurance options -- like many states. Here's how you can find out more about the types of California health insurance available.

There's one reason to have health insurance and that's because an illness or injury could financially devastate you and your family. However, you may be shopping for individual or family health insurance because you are self-employed or it's not available through your employer.

In California there are different types of plans, and since costs and coverages can vary quite a bit you want to do some comparison shopping to make sure you get the right policy for your situation. These different types of plans generally come in two categories: Fee-for-service and managed care.

With a fee-for-service policy -- also called an indemnity policy -- you pay a premium, a deductible and coinsurance and can usually choose the doctor, clinic or other provider you want. That freedom of choice is the big appeal of an indemnity policy, and these policies are regulated by the Californian Department of Insurance.

If you are familiar with an HMO or PPO, you are familiar with a managed care plan. A PPO policy provides a monetary incentive to use the doctors, hospitals, and other providers in their preferred network. You will pay more if you go outside the network.

An HMO policy requires you to use the healthcare providers in their network unless it's an emergency. You have a primary care physician who directs your care and coordinates referrals with specialists.

When you start shopping for health insurance, get at least three different quotes and compare costs, coverages and other services. Not all policies will be identical; you want the policy that will provide the protection you need at the right price. It's easy in California to get multiple quotes online -- especially at an insurance comparison Web site. You can enter your information once, and get multiple quotes back. Before you take out a policy, read it carefully and don't hesitate to ask questions.

Winter Camping with the Right Gear

One crazy winter day, my wife and I decided that we wanted to experiment with cold weather camping. It was January, we had cabin fever, and the sun had been out briefly, so we thought we would go. We packed all of our gear, put our two dogs in the SUV, and drove an hour to Shenandoah National Park. On the way, however, the skies filled with clouds and a slight rain started to fall. The temperature was right at 32 and we started to worry about our adventure. When we got to the gates of the park, the ranger informed us that the road was only open for about a half mile because as the elevation increased, the temperature dropped. This meant that the rain on the road had turned to ice. He showed us one trail that we could still access from the part of the road that was open and said there was parking. But he also looked at us a little funny and said "you know that it's January and raining, right? You aren't going to freeze on me up there are you?" We assured him that we had four season camping gear and that we would be fine. We also had two large dogs. Off we went.

The first part of the hike was simply amazing. Sure enough, about 100 years up the trail and the rain had turned to big snow flakes. It was quiet and beautiful. We walked and enjoyed the surroundings. The dogs played in the forest, which was all ours of course. Nobody else was crazy enough to be on the mountain in these conditions. When we approached the first suitable camping site, I suggested we take it. We unpacked and started the familiar rituals for setting up our camp. However, there was one notable difference, it was starting to get dark already! It was merely 4:30 and the light was starting to change. This we had not counted on. We hurried our activities and by the time we sat down with our camp stove for dinner, it was really dark. Worse than that, it was also getting colder quickly.

This is the real lesson about winter camping. You tend to forget that the light is on a completely different schedule. By about 7:30pm, we were cold and ready to be in our tent. But we weren't tired. We talked for a while in the darkness and eventually went to sleep. We got a ton of sleep that night, but not good sleep. Our four-season gear did not prove to be as strong as advertised. The cold seemed to leak into my sleeping bag from every tiny seam. My suggestion for those who are seeking the winter camping adventure is DO IT. However, bring three of just about everything. If it's your first time, perhaps consider car camping so that you don't have to agonize about the weight of all the extra stuff. It was truly exhilaratingly to wake and find an igloo of ice on the tent fly. That first cup of coffee was perhaps the best tasting morning drink of my life. As the morning sun started to melt the ice on the trees, it made for a surreal winter scene that I will not soon forget. However, be smart and bring tons of gear. Start small and make sure you don't get into real trouble by stretching your camping equipment farther than it can really go.

Journey On The Highest World's Railway - Beijing To Lhasa By Train

Since July 2006 after the opening route of the Qingzang Railway between Golmud to Lhasa in Tibet, the Peruvian Orient Express is not the highest passenger train in the world anymore. The railway line to the Lake Titicaca in Peru crosses a pass at 4,330 meters at its highest point, La Raya. The new Tibetan train crosses the Tangula Pass at 5,072 meters above sea level and thus has become the world's highest rail track.

The train, also known as "Sky Train", connects Lhasa with major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shangai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xining, Xian and Lanzhou. The journey from Beijing to Lhasa lasts 48 hours and runs every day.

On the 1st of July 2006, The Republic People of China President, Hu Jintao, inaugurated the section between Golmud and Lhasa. The main purpose of this railway is to accelerate the economic growth of the autonomous region of Tibet. Transportation of goods is expected to grow significantly over the 10 years and will lead Tibet to a new era. Tourism is a crucial aspect for the development of Tibet. It is now possible to travel through Tibet without facing the long overland journeys.

Statistics speak by themselves concerning this luxury train traveling through the rooftop of the world. With an average of 4000 meters high, the 1,142 km railway from Golmud to Lhasa is an exceptional accomplishment of Chinese engineers. It required hundreds of thousands of workers to lay the track across the Tibetan plateau under harsh conditions. The railway includes 44 stations, 675 bridges and the highest rail tunnel in the world located at 4,905m (Fenghuoshan tunnel). In 2001, an earthquake of 8.2 Richter scale warned engineers of possible risks and challenges. Nevertheless, engineers stuck to their missions and eventually five years of great work and $3.68 billion triumphed over this great challenge.

Building the railway through the Tibetan Kunkun range of mountains was a huge challenge due to the presence of permafrost at such altitude. About 600km of the railway was built on this unstable ground and implied to the Chinese engineers to come up with a long lasting and safe solutions. It was thought to be impossible…

The skepticism of the international geological community didn't slow down the Chinese expectations to come up with a long term solution. They developed a technique that elevates the track with strong foundations sunk into the ground and that injects liquid nitrogen into pipes in order to keep the rail bed constantly frozen. Nevertheless, the international community remains frightened due to global warming and many fear to see the railway collapse within 10 years.

Tibet is a land of extraordinary environmental diversity and the impact of the train is a tremendous concern for the Chinese authority. More than $192 million have been granted for environment protection. Many endangered species such as the Tibetan antelopes are vulnerable to the brutal modification of their habitat. In order to avoid such trouble and to let them cross the railway, 33 overpasses were constructed at various locations along the route.

The train is specially built to face the difficult environment of high altitude and provide oxygen supply for each passenger to prevent the altitude sickness. UV-protection systems make the journey even more pleasant. There are a couple of options to be accommodated on the train. You can choose to stay in soft sleeper beds cabin which are designed for business men from commercial cities of China and tourists from all over the world or to experience the hard sleeper beds and thus travel with Chinese and Tibetan locals. The last option is a complete immersion into the Chinese customs and way of life. On the last section from Golmud to Lhasa, you can expect to travel with yak herdsmen on hard sleeper cabins.

A restaurant is available on board and provides wider selections of delicious Chinese cuisine. It is a real delight to discover and taste the local food while enjoying the Tibetan landscapes. It is highly recommended to bring a Chinese phrasebook as the train crews don't speak English.

It is a captivating journey which gives you a glimpse of Chinese countryside composed essentially of flat cultivated land, brown hill and riverside valleys. You can witness extraordinary scenes of rural life as you cross Mainland China. The scenery changes completely as you get closer to Tibet. The train goes up on the Tibetan plateau and reaches its average altitude of 4000 meters high after passing Golmud. The green hills are replaced by huge mountain range with 7000 meters peaks dominating the entire landscape. The polluted industrial Chinese cities disappear to let you discover the purity of Tibet. Nomadic settlements, ancient monasteries, high mountain passes, turquoise Lakes and deserts will fascinate and conquer your imagination. You will encounter Yaks herds, itinerant Tibetans, wild donkeys and horses while going through the Tibetan grassland.

After 48 hours of a fantastic trip, you arrive at the train station of Lhasa which is located 45 minutes away of the town itself. Your next adventure will be to discover the highlights of the Tibetan capital including the Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lamas, the Norbulingka monastery, the Jokhang temple and the Barkhor Market.

Traveling on the Sky train is the most enjoyable way to reach Lhasa from mainland China. But the visit of Tibet is not complete until you get a bit more adventurous and drive through the Tibetan plateau by 4WD land cruiser. Exploring typical Tibetan cities such as Shigatse, Gyantse and Lhatse while driving towards Nepal are a must-do experience. Tibet has a lot to offer and a trip on the roof of the world will convince you that Tibet is the most accessible land despite of its location.

When to go


The best time to go on this tour is from April to November in order to avoid the cold winter season.
Despite the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, the daytime temperatures are actually quite mild. Between April and November the average temperature ranges form 15-25 degrees Celsius and the skies are generally clear and blue. From July to August though there can be the odd shower during the day, the nights, however, can be very cold and temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius.

Tour


Explore Himalaya organizes an 18 day tour from Beijing to Lhasa which includes a full immersion into the Chinese, Tibetan and Nepali cultures.

Florida Self Employed Health Insurance

Florida residents that are self employed and looking for health insurance have a number of options available to them. Be aware that depending upon your health, your age, and other factors unique to your particular situation there is no hard and fast rule as to which option is best for you. However, there are some general guidelines that will help you make the best Florida self employed health insurance decision.

The first Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is to simply apply for an individual health insurance policy. The benefit to applying for an individual health insurance policy is that individual health insurance rates in Florida are very competitive.

The downside to attempting to purchase an individual health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that you must be healthy. According to FL law, a health insurance company can decline your application for an individual health insurance policy based on prior medical history (pre-existing conditions), height and weight restrictions, and other health related criteria.

That means if you have cancer, diabetes, weight problems, or a host of other physical ailments then you will be denied coverage with a Florida individual health insurance policy. (Any unscrupulous agent that tries to tell you other wise is misrepresenting whatever product he or she is trying to sell you as health insurance when in fact it is probably a discount health plan or a health insurance indemnity plan with very limited coverage).

The second Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is to apply for a Florida group health insurance plan. In Florida, any group of 2 employer/employees or more is considered eligible for a Florida small group health insurance. (If it is just you: 1 self employed person functioning as a sole proprietor in the state of Florida then you have a different option open to you - see option 3 below). The benefit to applying for a Florida small group health insurance policy is that that certain health issues that can signal an automatic decline on the individual health insurance side will not signal an automatic decline on the group health insurance side.

The downside to attempting to purchase a group health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that it can be very expensive. Think of it in terms of: the more potentially unhealthy people that the insurance company has to give health insurance to (group health insurance) the higher the premiums will be as opposed to where the insurance company can pick and choose who they will accept for health insurance (individual health insurance).

The third Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is for those that are functioning as a sole proprietor. Florida self employed sole proprietors can apply for a Florida guaranteed issue small group health plan. The Florida guaranteed issue small group health plans has an open enrollment period only during the month of August.

Florida self employed health insurance can be a somewhat tricky area to navigate without the help of a licensed independent Florida health insurance agent. There are also many different ways to save money in taxes - one of which being the ability to deduct your health insurance premiums paid on Schedule C of your tax return against and up to your Schedule C income (Meaning that even if you don't itemize [Schedule A] you can still deduct your health insurance premiums paid all the way up to your Schedule C income!).