Today was a day of communications.
First, I got an email from the DC office of my expeditor -- We've received your package and are processing it immediately. Then I got a follow up call from the local Charlotte office. What terrific customer service!
Then, I got a notification from my doctor, scheduling my vaccine-visit.
Wow! This trip is rolling along!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
T.I. 2
From the single Details page, or the Compare page, you can link into legal definitions of certain words used in the policy details: “Cancel For Work Reasons”, “Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation”, “Trip Interruption”. Did you know that some travel insurance includes “Terrorism” coverage???
It’s really important to click these links, to understand how your understanding of words may differ from the insurance definition of those words – meaning is your concept of “Employment Layoff” the same as theirs. You will learn from reading the reviews that coverage is typically paid to the letter of the policy – so you want to be very familiar with the definitions in the policies you are considering – and choose a policy that has the amount and type of coverage you are actually hoping for and feel you need.
I cancelled out of the practice quote and revisited my friend Google, where I looked for reviews of SquareMouth itself. My research indicated that the company has a good reputation and stands by their Zero Complaint Guarantee.
The only complaints I found – that I also found credible – were about the actual insurance carriers and not about SquareMouth. I noted down the most heinous offenders as those were definitely off my list.
My next act was to start a real quote. Since my trip is not a package dealio but piecemeal, I guestimated the estimated cost. I went through the exercise of comparing policies multiple times until I narrowed it down to one.
And I bought. Online. Like the beast that I am.
It’s really important to click these links, to understand how your understanding of words may differ from the insurance definition of those words – meaning is your concept of “Employment Layoff” the same as theirs. You will learn from reading the reviews that coverage is typically paid to the letter of the policy – so you want to be very familiar with the definitions in the policies you are considering – and choose a policy that has the amount and type of coverage you are actually hoping for and feel you need.
I cancelled out of the practice quote and revisited my friend Google, where I looked for reviews of SquareMouth itself. My research indicated that the company has a good reputation and stands by their Zero Complaint Guarantee.
The only complaints I found – that I also found credible – were about the actual insurance carriers and not about SquareMouth. I noted down the most heinous offenders as those were definitely off my list.
My next act was to start a real quote. Since my trip is not a package dealio but piecemeal, I guestimated the estimated cost. I went through the exercise of comparing policies multiple times until I narrowed it down to one.
And I bought. Online. Like the beast that I am.
Travel Insurance
I always get travel insurance – never yet had to actually USE the policy, but it just feels safer having it. Usually I get my policy through a travel agent, but since YL handled the flights I decided I’d ask my friend Google.
I have to admit, I was drawn to SquareMouth by the big purple link line “13,000 Reviews - Compare and Buy”. I love to read reviews. And I can’t resist the opportunity to compare and buy.
The website was a pleasure from a user’s perspective. It has an easy to follow menu above the horizontal artwork. Beneath the artwork in subtle-yet-noticeable boxes are stats – reviews, products, sales, ratings, etc. The body has a lot of white space surrounding a lot of information, and doesn’t feel cluttered or overwhelming due to the use of low noise fonts and colors. The Zero Complaint Guarantee is an easy to spot element. And if you don’t like booking online, the 24 x 7 800-number jumps to your attention.
I started a practice quote, just to poke through the site. India, travel dates, estimated cost of trip…
“Should this quote include trip cancellation coverage?” Why yes, in our current corporate environment I would say definitely.
Citizenship, residency, age, etc.
I was presented with 50-ish policy options in a large range of price points and coverage from a dozen different insurance carriers. The summary page was again filled with information but was lite and not overwhelming, and included coverage values for Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Evacuation, Medical, Medical Secondary for each of the 50 policies. I could link into pages of current reviews with comments, for each policy. And I could click, click, click and compare policy details side by side.
I have to admit, I was drawn to SquareMouth by the big purple link line “13,000 Reviews - Compare and Buy”. I love to read reviews. And I can’t resist the opportunity to compare and buy.
The website was a pleasure from a user’s perspective. It has an easy to follow menu above the horizontal artwork. Beneath the artwork in subtle-yet-noticeable boxes are stats – reviews, products, sales, ratings, etc. The body has a lot of white space surrounding a lot of information, and doesn’t feel cluttered or overwhelming due to the use of low noise fonts and colors. The Zero Complaint Guarantee is an easy to spot element. And if you don’t like booking online, the 24 x 7 800-number jumps to your attention.
I started a practice quote, just to poke through the site. India, travel dates, estimated cost of trip…
“Should this quote include trip cancellation coverage?” Why yes, in our current corporate environment I would say definitely.
Citizenship, residency, age, etc.
Quote Now!
I was presented with 50-ish policy options in a large range of price points and coverage from a dozen different insurance carriers. The summary page was again filled with information but was lite and not overwhelming, and included coverage values for Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Evacuation, Medical, Medical Secondary for each of the 50 policies. I could link into pages of current reviews with comments, for each policy. And I could click, click, click and compare policy details side by side.
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