Travel Guard has launched a new “Travel Comes First,” program aimed at travel agencies that will leverage Travel Guard’s position to offer agencies new travel technology programs and expanded services, in addition to co-branding opportunities. Travel Guard will continue to roll out details of the new programs over the next several weeks.
“The latest enhancements to our core products result from direct input received from our travel agency partners,” says Tom Zavadsky, Travel Guard’s executive vice president of sales and underwriting. “They really have their fingers on the pulse of what travelers want, and more importantly, what they need. In today’s turbulent travel environment, it’s more important than ever for consumers to work with a trusted travel agent to ensure their travel insurance plan includes the coverage they need.”
Travel Guard has upgraded its four most popular travel insurance plans. The enhancements include more comprehensive trip-cancellation coverage due to involuntary job loss and other covered work reasons. The plans also now include coverage due to volcanic eruptions, additional trip cancellation reasons and baggage delay, which is now effective after 12 hours (reduced from 24) on some plans all enhancements are not included in all plans.
The major coverage enhancements and upgrades include:
• Greater Cancellation Coverage – On some plans, additional covered reasons for trip cancellation have been added. Covered reasons now include the inability of a host at a destination to accommodate travel due to their death, illness or injury; and travel delay due to mechanical/equipment failure causing a loss of more than 50 percent of the trip. Also, volcanic eruptions and fire have been added to the definition of “natural disasters.” The Baggage Delay benefit is now effective after 12 hours (reduced from 24).
• Medical Coverage – Medical coverage is now primary, rather than secondary, meaning policy holders’ covered medial claims are paid first even if the insured has additional coverage.
• $3 Service Fees Eliminated for Optional Coverages – Travel Guard has responded to travel agency requests by eliminating the $3 service fee for each optional coverage added. The per-plan fee remains and is $7.
• Expanded Job Loss/ Layoff Trip Cancellation Benefit – Enhanced trip cancellation coverage due to involuntary termination or layoff is now included with each of Travel Guard’s four core plans: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Basic. Because the plans also feature unlimited departure dates, the coverage applies to trips in 2009 and beyond, providing agencies with a tool to close travel bookings this year and into the future.
Over the next several weeks Travel Guard will launch additional “Travel Comes First” initiatives, including enhancements to the AgentLink technology and the “Profits Plus” program, Travel Guard said.
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