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 Money
Management Newsletter: General
Interest
Snowbirds: On the road again...
Compiled by Tracey Byram, Travel Consultant
A Money Management Newsletter article
Travel agents and insurance experts expects sales of travel medical insurance
to peak in October/November - a sure sign that 'snowbirds' are beginning
to flock to the borders and migrate south for the winter. To help ensure
a trouble-free extended vacation, auto clubs are encouraging senior sun-seekers
to take a few extra precautions to protect themselves, along with their
homes and belongings, while they're away.
Here are a few things you do before you
pack up and leave:
- Purchase travel medical insurance before leaving on vacation. Provincial
health care coverage may not provide full coverage for medical emergencies
in other parts of Canada, and foreign countries, and in fact, covers
less than 10 per cent of hospital expenses in the, United States. Make
sure your travel medical insurance provides coverage for hospital expenses,
medical bills, prescription drugs, ambulances, air evacuation and emergency
dental care.
- Arrange to have a reliable person check your home to ensure heating
is maintained; otherwise, your home insurance policy may limit coverage
for loss or damage caused by freezing of your home's heating or plumbing
systems.
- Ensure all doors and windows are locked and use timers to turn lights
-and possibly a TV or radio - on/off during the day and night. It's
also a good idea to have a neighbour pick up mail, newspapers, shovel
snow, mow the lawn and report any sign of trouble.
- Make sure your auto insurance doesn't expire while you're away. Consult
with an insurance advisor to make necessary arrangements if the insurance
on the vehicle you're driving expires while you're away. And, for any
unlicensed vehicles you leave behind, consider purchasing a storage
policy to cover fire, theft and vandalism.
- If you're driving to your destination, make sure you have adequate
limits of third-party liability coverage on your automobile or RV should
you be found responsible for someone else's injury or damage to their
property. Your current coverage limits are in Canadian dollars, so if
you are travelling to the U.S. you might not have enough coverage.
- If you're planning to drive your RV, it's a good idea to ensure that
you have physical damage coverage for your vehicle. This will cover
your RV in the event of damage or a total loss.
- Before driving long distances, thoroughly check your vehicle's tires
for air pressure and tread wear, looking specifically for any signs
of uneven wear. As RVs tend not to be driven regularly, it's especially
important to check your vehicle's tires for cracks. Also, if you're
planning to drive through mountain passes, equip your vehicle with snow
tires or chains.
Tracey Bryam is a travel consultant and advisor
at Burlington CruiseShipCenter
Tel: 905-631-1700
Toll-Free: 1-888-739-3117
E-mail: cbyram@cruiseshipcenters.com
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©
, Fiscal Agents Money Management Newsletter
25 Lakeshore Road, Oakville, On L6K 1C6.
(905) 844-7700
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