Travel Insurance

John Hancock Financial said that it has entered the travel insurance marketplace, distributing products through a new web site, www.johnhancocktravel.com, and through travel insurance comparison sites such as InsureMyTrip.com.   The new travel insurance plans and products combine cancellation, interruption, medical, accident, and baggage protection with worldwide 24-hour multi-lingual emergency services, Boston-based John Hancock said. They products will be distributed by John Hancock Insurance Agency Inc., and underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania.

It seems that "Insurance is for pessimists" is the attitude of many people planning a vacation overseas. No one wants to dwell on the mishaps that might land you in a foreign hospital. Travel insurance is worth considering, however. For a relatively modest outlay, you can buy coverage that protects you if you have to cancel before or during your trip because you, your traveling companions, or even a family member not traveling with you becomes ill and requires care. (These policies also cover cancellations for non-health-related reasons, such as a weather-caused flight...

As the Indian Ocean tsunami tragically demonstrated, disaster can strike without warning and with terrible consequences. Almost all of the more than 150,000 victims were residents of the affected countries, of course, but a few thousand were vacationers, including some from the United States. There is no sure protection for travelers against natural disasters, accidents, illness, or other perils. However, it is indicative of these nervous times that the percentage of travelers taking out trip insurance is estimated to have almost tripled in the last few years.

John Hancock Financial said that it has entered the travel insurance marketplace, distributing products through a new web site, www.johnhancocktravel.com, and through travel insurance comparison sites such as InsureMyTrip.com.   The new travel insurance plans and products combine cancellation, interruption, medical, accident, and baggage protection with worldwide 24-hour multi-lingual emergency services, Boston-based John Hancock said. They products will be distributed by John Hancock Insurance Agency Inc., and underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania.

It seems that "Insurance is for pessimists" is the attitude of many people planning a vacation overseas. No one wants to dwell on the mishaps that might land you in a foreign hospital. Travel insurance is worth considering, however. For a relatively modest outlay, you can buy coverage that protects you if you have to cancel before or during your trip because you, your traveling companions, or even a family member not traveling with you becomes ill and requires care. (These policies also cover cancellations for non-health-related reasons, such as a weather-caused flight...

Travel insurance is changing with the times, going well beyond the basics of trip cancellation and medical coverage to include such services as identity theft protection and concierge service. Products vary from company to company, and even within an individual company, policies often range from the deluxe, for travelers with multiple concerns, to the bare bones, for students and others with fewer worries and less money to spend. Most basic policies cover the traveler when the trip is canceled, interrupted, or delayed, as well as the cost of medical expenses, including emergency...

Q. My fiancé and I booked our honeymoon in July. We were scheduled to fly out of Worcester to San Juan on Dec. 25. We are getting married Dec. 10th, and because my fiancé is a teacher, traveling over Christmas break was our only option. Yesterday, Direct Air called to say all flights from Worcester to Puerto Rico have been postponed. The real issue is that with only six weeks until the honeymoon, we cannot get a flight that isn't several times the price we had paid. What can we do?

Ask any travel authority the best way to get a good price or assure a reservation during the holiday season and chances are you will get a two-word answer: Be flexible. But that two-word answer doesn't make for a very long column, so let us expand : Changing the day -- sometimes even the hour -- you leave and return can often get you a better price on your flight or hotel room, or at least guarantee space for you. Here are related tips for holiday travel from various sources (the ones I agree with, at any rate)

The violence that erupted in Kenya after a disputed presidential election Dec. 27 raised questions for those planning a trip to one of Africa's most popular safari destinations. Is it safe? Can I postpone? If I cancel can I get my money back? Am I covered under travel insurance? Travelers have been surfing government sites, reaching out to tour operators, and trolling TripAdvisor.com for answers. Many are getting mixed messages. Members of the London-based Federation of Tour Operators, which includes some of the biggest tour companies...

SAN JUAN - A Maryland man detained in Aruba in the presumed death of his travel partner had an accidental-death insurance policy on her and sought to claim the money two days after reporting her missing, said a person who provided information to the investigation. The details of the policy obtained by Gary V. Giordano before his trip to Aruba may help explain why he has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the death of Robyn Gardner during their getaway to the Dutch Caribbean island.

Q. My fiancé and I booked our honeymoon in July. We were scheduled to fly out of Worcester to San Juan on Dec. 25. We are getting married Dec. 10th, and because my fiancé is a teacher, traveling over Christmas break was our only option. Yesterday, Direct Air called to say all flights from Worcester to Puerto Rico have been postponed. The real issue is that with only six weeks until the honeymoon, we cannot get a flight that isn't several times the price we had paid. What can we do?

The violence that erupted in Kenya after a disputed presidential election Dec. 27 raised questions for those planning a trip to one of Africa's most popular safari destinations. Is it safe? Can I postpone? If I cancel can I get my money back? Am I covered under travel insurance? Travelers have been surfing government sites, reaching out to tour operators, and trolling TripAdvisor.com for answers. Many are getting mixed messages. Members of the London-based Federation of Tour Operators, which includes some of the biggest tour companies in Britain,...

Ask any travel authority the best way to get a good price or assure a reservation during the holiday season and chances are you will get a two-word answer: Be flexible. But that two-word answer doesn't make for a very long column, so let us expand : Changing the day -- sometimes even the hour -- you leave and return can often get you a better price on your flight or hotel room, or at least guarantee space for you. Here are related tips for holiday travel from various sources (the ones I agree with, at any rate)

Travel insurance is changing with the times, going well beyond the basics of trip cancellation and medical coverage to include such services as identity theft protection and concierge service. Products vary from company to company, and even within an individual company, policies often range from the deluxe, for travelers with multiple concerns, to the bare bones, for students and others with fewer worries and less money to spend. Most basic policies cover the traveler when the trip is canceled, interrupted, or delayed, as well...

As the Indian Ocean tsunami tragically demonstrated, disaster can strike without warning and with terrible consequences. Almost all of the more than 150,000 victims were residents of the affected countries, of course, but a few thousand were vacationers, including some from the United States. There is no sure protection for travelers against natural disasters, accidents, illness, or other perils. However, it is indicative of these nervous times that the percentage of travelers taking out trip insurance is estimated to have almost tripled in the last few years.

As a drifting ash from a volcano eruption in Iceland continued to disrupt international flights at airports worldwide yesterday, the travel industry began bracing for more potential scheduling problems heading into the summer. One-sixth of the 36 scheduled flights between Logan International Airport and European destinations were canceled yesterday: two Icelandair flights between Reykjavik and Boston, an American Airlines flight from London, a Delta flight from Amsterdam, and two Aer Lingus flights from Dublin.