Adventure trips need ample travel insurance deals

Holidaymakers planning adventure sports or activities must check the small print of their travel insurance deals, esure has warned.

According to new research from the insurer, more than one in 10 holidaymakers, amounting to more than 5 million people, have been injured while taking part in such an activity abroad.

However, less than three-quarters of respondents said that they would check their travel insurance deals to make sure they were covered, while 13% said that they would take part in an activity even if they knew their policy was inadequate.

Mike Pickard, head of travel insurance at esure, advised holidaymakers to compare travel insurance offers to ensure that they are covered for everything they intend to do.

"With a surge in the popularity of, and access to, more adventurous sports and activities at holiday resorts across the globe, it's crucial for holidaymakers to take out travel insurance and check what they're covered for," he said.

"Have an accident without insurance and the medical bills could turn a paradise trip into a nightmare if you're not properly covered."

Why you might need travel insurance

Life is filled with unexpected moments, and many tend to occur on vacation or a business trip.

To help protect against unpleasant, unexpected moments, many people buy travel insurance before leaving home.

Many others wonder if it’s worth the additional expense, which generally starts at about 5% to 7% of your trip cost.

But depending on your circumstances, insurance could protect you against a wide range of potential problems.

“As a musician, I have to travel a lot for both business and pleasure,” said 40-year-old pianist and composer Jonathan Faiman of Hartsdale, Westchester. “Life is unpredictable, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. I always add the optional insurance when booking travel because it gives me added piece of mind.”

For someone like Faiman, insurance makes perfect sense.

“If I think I may need to cancel my travel plans or alter them considerably, by adding the cancel for any reason option to a travel insurance policy, I know I won’t ever lose money on otherwise nonrefundable travel,” he said. “This aspect of the policy alone has saved me a fortune.”

Dan McGinnity, a spokesman for insurance company Travel Guard, said, “Purchasing a travel insurance policy offers vacationers and business travelers alike added piece of mind, especially when traveling internationally.

“We offer free telephone assistance, available anytime, should any problem arise,” he said. “We’ll help fix the situation, whether it’s rebooking a missed flight, finding and paying for emergency medical attention for you, or helping you replace a lost or stolen passport.”

A comprehensive policy typically covers you if your plans are disrupted, your luggage is lost or stolen, or if you become ill or injured after purchasing the policy and need medical attention or, perhaps, an emergency evacuation.

“Americans have a misconception that their existing health insurance will cover them anywhere,” McGinnity said. “It’s essential for travelers to determine, in advance, what their existing medical insurance will cover.”

Most standard policies don’t cover cancellations based on your state of mind. That means deciding you’re afraid to travel won’t be covered.

While not cheap, cancel for any reason coverage will cover all nonrefundable expenses.

“What you choose will determine your level of coverage, what will ultimately be covered and the policy’s cost,” McGinnity said.

10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp as You Age

1) Eat well
A rule of thumb is that what's good for your heart is good for your brain. Indulge in fruits and vegetables and foods with B-complex vitamins, like oats, barley and wheat bran, and omega-3 fatty acids, like fish — especially salmon and tuna. Avoid foods with saturated fat, found in fried foods, butter and cheese.
2) Exercise
Physical activity pumps blood through your organs, including your brain. As little as 30 minutes of low-level activity like brisk walking improves blood flow, which increases neural growth and brain connections. When vessels in the brain are blocked cognitive ability decreases, and the risk of stroke increases, says Rosebud Roberts, associate professor of epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
3) Play games
Thanks to an aging baby-boom generation there are now plenty of mentally stimulating games. Brainteasers and puzzles are good exercises for the brain. So are games that force you to strategize like chess, bridge and solitaire.
4) Learn a new skill
A long-term goal like learning to play a musical instrument or speak another language will challenge your brain on many levels over an extended period of time. A skill like learning to dance is great for the brain because it combines music and movement.
5) Make everyday activities harder
You can stimulate your brain just by mixing up your daily routine. Try brushing your teeth with the opposite hand or showering with your eyes closed — anything that will force you to use more of your senses.
6) Read. Read. Read.
Whether your weapon of choice is this web site, a novel or a newspaper, keeping your mind engaged in intellectual activity and expanding your vocabulary are two important ways to keep your brain in shape. As an added exercise, repeat facts you want to remember a few times in your head and try to recall them again later.
7) Relieve stress
Try yoga, meditation or just taking a breather every now and then. High blood pressure, as well as anxiety and depression, have been linked to declining cognitive function, says Roberts. "Anything you can do to keep your brain active and healthy will be beneficial," she says.
8) Socialize
The brain loves activity. "It's kind of like a party animal," says Doraiswamy. If your lifestyle leaves you isolated, seek out clubs or other social activities that will surround you with people. New scenery and other multi-sensory activities force the brain to form new connections, increasing memory capacity. For more SmartMoney Magazine features, turn to the September issue.
9) Drink
But not too much. Studies have shown that people who drink small amounts of alcohol — between one and six drinks per week — are less likely to develop dementia than people who don't drink at all. Doraiswamy says red wine, in particular, has anti-inflammatory effects, which benefits the brain. But don't overdo it — heavy drinking depletes the brain of B-complex vitamins and Thiamin.
10) Sleep
A healthy sleep pattern is key to maintaining memory function since your brain locks in new information during REM sleep. Adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night — and remember, REM is the last of five sleep cycles, so make sure it's an uninterrupted rest.