The Insurance Doctor

Category: travel

  • 8 Summer Travel Planning Tips

    8 Summer Travel Planning Tips

    8 Summer Travel Planning Tips

    Having touched foot on 6 of the 7 continents, I have learned a lot over the years.  Many families have held off on their summer travel due to the pandemic, and rightly so, as rules have been changing.  I just returned from 2 weeks in Northern California.  Travel has undergone significant changes over the past year.  Some of my tips include:

    1. Call Your Credit Card Company in Advance: Give them your full itinerary, with dates in each city.  I have had credit cards frozen after they have seen a string of out-of-town expenditures.
    2. When Packing Start from Feet to Head: This is a good thing to do in the morning getting ready for work.  I start from feet to head and pack in piles.
    3. Pack a Change of Clothes in your Carry-on Bag if Flying: Over29 million bags are lost or delayed each year.  Be ready when and if it happens to you.
    4. Buy an Off-Color Suitcase: This decreases confusion and is more easily recognizable during ground-transportation madness with people jockeying for their luggage.
    5. Sign Up for the TSA: The TSA pre-check can make the difference between making and missing a flight.  It offers better distancing and eliminates the need to remove your shoes, belts, and/or laptops expediting the process.  TSA memberships cost only $85 and it is good for 5 years.  The renewal is discounted to $70 if done online at tsa.gov/precheck.com or $85 in person.
    6. Research AAA and Airline Vacation Packages: It is no secret that airlines and hotels have been hurt by the pandemic.  There are some sweet short-notice vacation packages available right now.  Check out AAA.com, JetBlueVacations.com, and AAvacations.com to name a few, and save big money!  If you have points with your preferred airline, start with them.
    7. Read Both Positive and Negative Hotel Reviews: Try booking.com, tripadvisor.com, and kayak.com for domestic travel.  For same-day rooms use hoteltonight.com.  It is a money-saving, excellent FREE APP to download onto your smart-phone to save big $$$.
    8. If Driving, Schedule a Tune-up and Map Your Journey in Advance: A good way to avoid getting into a spat with a spouse or loved one, lol.  There is nothing worse than a car breaking down or getting lost on a road trip.  My preference is WAZE over Google Maps.  WAZE (owned by Google) downloads faster and has an information-sharing agreement with over 800 US cities and international countries.  Waze also warns you about upcoming speed traps, red-light cameras and debris on the road.  WAZE has saved me many times over the years, and it also works overseas.  We used it during our father-Son trip to in London in the summer of 2019 for the 2-game Yankees vs. Red Sox series.

    I have spoken with family friends who haven’t been away since covid-19, and some say they are a little rusty regarding travel.  Sometimes people put too much pressure on themselves to have a good time in this situation.  Planning in advance can help ensure a smoother summer vacation.  Have a fabulous trip and enjoy your summer!

  • Travel Insurance?

    Travel Insurance?

                                

    The summer travel season kicked off this past Memorial Day weekend!  Over 3 million Americans planned to travel by air, besting predictions by the Federal Aviation Administration!

    Many Americans are couped up and feeling the need to take a break and catch up on missed travel opportunities this summer.  Some are calling this the season of “Revenge Travel!” 

    International travel has become riskier, as there are more variables such as testing Covid-19 positive and being mandated to quarantine in a foreign country well past your intended duration of stay.  For this reason, it is critical to explore travel insurance. 

    There are many different variations of travel insurance policies.  From family vacations to extreme sports, to business travel, travel insurance policies provide travelers with peace of mind knowing they have an extra layer of protection from unforeseen circumstances during these tumultuous times!

    One thing about travel and insurance is that every situation is different and unique.  Regular “Financial Wave” readers might remember I wrote a piece on this in the beginning of this year.

    There are so many variables and questions to ask yourself, such as:

    1. What does my current health insurance cover?
    2. Will there be dangerous risks?
    3. What does my credit card cover?
    4. What about my pre-existing conditions?
    5. What about my medicare supplement or Medigap policy?
    6. Should I protect myself more now since I am older?
    7. Can I afford to self-insure this risk?

    I decided to do a “deeper dive” into some of these important questions and interviewed Jerry Gonzalez, President of Dugan and Gonzalez Insurance, located in Ridgewood, Queens.

    Hi Jerry, “my readers have questions about travel insurance during these uncertain times as protection is more important now than ever”. 

                Robert:  1. Jerry, what type of protection does my current health insurance policy provide me?

                Jerry:  First and foremost, always call and ask your broker or insurance carrier.  Changes are made to plans all the time, so what was once covered may not be covered now.  How you obtain insurance coverage has an impact on coverage extended to you.  Individual plans or Affordable Care Act exchange-based plans usually do NOT cover these types of claims!

    Employer-based group plans usually do offer emergency coverage outside the USA, though the challenge doesn’t end there.  The foreign provider will expect payment upfront before services are rendered.  The coverage extended to you only provides reimbursement AFTER the claim is submitted, so the question you must ask yourself is, “Do I have access to enough funds to cover the cost of a medical emergency?”

    Robert: 2. What about my Medicare or Medigap supplement policy? 

    Jerry: Medicare supplement plans will cover up to 60 days of travel, up to $50,000 on your policy.  Medicare Advantage usually does NOT offer this coverage.  When coverage is available it is offered on a reimbursement basis once the claim is submitted.  This brings us back to the original question; “Do I have access to enough funds to cover the cost of a medical emergency?”

    Robert: 3.  What about if I take dangerous risks?

    Jerry:  When you are traveling and participating in extreme sports or high-risk activities, I would suggest looking into your coverage closely.  Ask questions about limits of the policy.  If you are working with a broker, outline the activities you plan to participate in making sure your coverage will cover those types of injuries.  There are policies designed specifically to handle emergency situations with concierge services to communicate with providers about coverage and payment.

    Robert: 4. What about policy pre-existing conditions?

    Jerry: Pre-existing conditions, depending on the policy, may present a challenge.  There are certain insurance carriers that underwrite the policy that may cover that condition for an additional premium, exclude the condition, or add a waiting period on covering that condition.  There are others that may provide a guaranteed issue policy and cover that regardless.  If you are concerned about a pre-existing condition, disclose it to the broker assisting you with the policy!

    Robert: 5.  Do I need to buy travel or cancellation insurance?

    Jerry: I would suggest that you do!  For an overseas trip, in this Covid-19 environment, I would say it is important.  For medical coverage on these policies, it is usually offered, and it is varied.  There may be different limits and conditions.  Usually, these policies are offered on a guaranteed-issue basis within a specified period, so they will usually cover pre-existing conditions.  You may have concerns about how they cover claims (reimbursement basis) and policy limits (dollar amounts).  I suggest obtaining a copy of the policy offered and submitting it to your broker for discussion. 

    It is better to be safe than sorry during these times of uncertainty!

  • 5 Reasons to Visit Northern California

    5 Reasons to Visit Northern California

    Since we are in the middle of the summer and a pandemic, it is not feasible for most people to travel overseas.  There has never been a better time to explore within the USA.  I recommend considering Northern California:

    1. Mount Shasta:  Beautiful mountain located between Redding and the Oregon border 3600 feet above sea level with hiking, museums, art galleries, and good cuisine.
    2. Sundial bridge: Built by Santiago Calatrava in 2004 this is the only sundial bridge in the USA.  It’s located in the turtle bay exploration park with a glass bottom, great trails, and a museum.  It’s a great stop if driving up to Vancouver and it’s also dog friendly.
    3. Pluto caves: These caves are not marked nor will you find them in any travel guide.  We were tipped off by a local and had an outstanding hike inside of them.
    4. Whiskeytown lake: It’s a reservoir in Shasta county and a big favorite of the locals.  Kayaking and all motorized boating are permitted.  Various levels of restaurants are available in the vicinity.
    5. In and Out Burger: My favorite burger chain.  Family-owned restaurants who unfortunately have stated they will not expand to the east coast.
  • 8 Summer Travel Tips

    8 Summer Travel Tips

    Having touched foot on 6 of the 7 continents, I have learned a lot over the years.  Many families have held off on their summer travel due to the pandemic, and rightly so, as rules have been changing.  I just returned from 2 weeks in Northern California.  Travel has undergone significant changes since my trip to Australia this past January.  Some of my tips include:

    1. Call Your Credit Card Company in Advance: Give them your full itinerary, with dates in each city.  I have had credit cards frozen after they have seen a string of out of town expenditures.
    2. When Packing Start from Feet to Head: I do this in the morning getting ready for work.  I start from feet to head and pack in piles.
    3. Pack a Change of Clothes in your Carry-on Bag if Flying: 29 million bags are lost or delayed each year.  Be ready when and if it happens to you.
    4. Buy an Off-Color Suitcase: It decreases confusion and is more easily recognizable during ground-transportation madness with people jockeying for their luggage.
    5. Sign Up for the TSA: The TSA pre-check can make the difference between making and missing a flight.  It offers better distancing and eliminates the need to remove off your shoes, expediting the process.
    6. Research AAA and Airline Vacation Packages: It is no secret that airlines and hotels have been hurt by the pandemic.  There are some sweet short-notice vacation packages available right now.  Check out AAA.com, JetBlueVacations.com, and AAvacations.com to name a few, and save big money!  If you have points with your preferred airline, start with them.
    7. Read Both Positive and Negative Hotel Reviews: Try booking.com, tripadvisor.com, and Kayak.com for domestic travel.  For same-day rooms use hoteltonight.com.  It is a money-saving, excellent FREE APP to download onto your smart-phone to save big $$$.
    8. If Driving, Get a Tune-up and Map Your Journey in Advance: A good way to avoid getting into a spat with a spouse or loved one, lol.  There is nothing worse than a car breaking down or getting lost on a road trip.  My preference is WAZE over Google Maps.  WAZE (owned by Google) downloads faster and has an information-sharing agreement with over 50 US cities.  Waze also warns you about upcoming speed traps, red-light cameras, and debris on the road.  WAZE has saved me many times over the years, and it also works overseas.  We used it last summer during the London Series, Yankees vs Red Sox our father-son trip.

    Stay Safe and Keep the Faith!

  • 8 Reasons to Visit Australia

    8 Reasons to Visit Australia

    Australia is a gorgeous place and it’s about 75% of the size of the United States with only 10% of our population situated mostly along the coast.  I hope you enjoy these reasons to visit half as much as we enjoyed this beautiful continent!

    1. The Great Barrier Reef: The largest reef system in the world dates back 500 million years and there are 3000 reefs covering 2000 islands over 1250 miles long.  Swimming with sharks and fish rank in my top 3 trips all-time (African Safari & Angkor Wat)!
    2. Blue Mountains National Park: Called the “Grand Canyon of Australia” the mountains get their name from the release of oil from the eucalyptus trees which causes a blue haze.  Amazing rock formations, hiking and visit “Scenic World” to ride the world’s steepest railway down to the rainforest boardwalk!
    3. The Animals: See some of the most exotic animals in the world ranging from Kangaroo’s to Koala bears to Penguins at Phillip Island and the Melbourne Sea Life aquarium.  About 1 million animals have died in the fires, they’ll be very happy and appreciative to see you!
    4. The Beaches: Australia is blessed with the most miles of coastline in the world and there are great beach options like Bondi beach that are close to the cities and easy to reach.  Watersports are available for families and extreme sports folks alike!
    5. The People: You won’t find friendlier and happier people anywhere around the globe.  Fun with a great sense of humor the people are a treasure and will appreciate your visit!  Melbourne has been voted the world’s most livable city several times.
    6. The Architecture: Sydney possesses a great diversity of architectural styles from Modern Expressionism like the Sydney Opera House to Colonial Georgian structures to elaborate Victorian buildings like Sydney town hall.
    7. Yarra Valley Wineries: This beautiful valley is home to some of Australia’s best cool-climate wineries.  They’re known for sparkling wines, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
    8. Reasonably priced:  With the proper research, coach flights are available for under $1000 and hotels are reasonably priced outside of Sydney.  We recommend Parramatta, a Sydney suburb and easy 25 minute Ferry Ride from center city Sydney, enjoy!
  • 5 reasons to visit northern California

    5 reasons to visit northern California

    California vacation destinationsRecently I had the pleasure of visiting friends in the far-north reaches of California. While the southern portion of the state is well known for its beaches and metropolitan attractions, northern California holds some notable destinations for travelers who venture north. Here are five attractions I had the pleasure of visiting recently.

    1. Mount Shasta: A beautiful mountain town nestled between Redding and the Oregon border in the southern Cascade range. The town is situated at an elevation of 3,600 feet above sea level under the shadow of Mount Shasta with hiking, museums, art galleries and good cuisine.

    2. Sundial bridge: Designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and constructed in 2004, this is the only functioning sundial bridge within the United States. It’s located in the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Spanning the Sacramento River the bridge sports a glass walkway where you can see salmon in the river beneath you. Also a great variety of walking trails and a museum. It’s a great stop if driving up to Vancouver and it’s also dog-friendly.

    3. Pluto’s caves: Discovered in 1863 by a rancher looking for stray cattle these caves are not marked nor will you find them in any travel guide. We were tipped off by a local and had an outstanding hike inside of them. Bring sturdy hiking boots, water and a spirit of adventure.

    4. Whiskeytown Lake: Stunning views and turquoise colored waters attract thousands of visitors to this lake. It’s a reservoir located west of Redding in Shasta County and is a favorite for locals. Kayaking and all motorized boating are permitted. Various levels of restaurants are available in the vicinity.

    5. In and Out Burger: My favorite burger chain. Family owned restaurants who unfortunately have stated they will not expand to the east coast. Going west? Better grab one of these fantastic burgers and a tee shirt to make your east coast friends jealous.

    Make this summer a productive one and contact Robert here today for a free financial review.

  • 6 Great Attractions in London on a budget

    6 Great Attractions in London on a budget

    London is a fantastic place to visit however it can burn a hole in your wallet or purse.  It’s approximately $1.25 for every 1 pound (Lb).  Check out 6 must-see options below:

    1. The British Museum: Ranked in the Top 25 place in the world to visit, this massive museum houses priceless artifacts from all 7 continents.  It’s set up by the country and sub-divided by era.  It’s also free!  Twas so nice I went twice.  They suggest a 5-pound donation however not mandatory.
    2. Borough Market: A hidden gem located walking distance from London Bridge.  Words don’t describe how interesting it is (see my FB pictures).  Before 5p the market is loaded with tasty treats.  Some of the best cheeses I’ve ever had.   After 5p it’s filled with locals getting out of work.
    3. Tate Modern Museum: Is an art gallery with pieces (Picasso’s and Warhol’s) mostly from 1900-present and is 1 of 4 Tate galleries in the UK.  There’s a great balcony for pictures of the Thames river and St. Paul’s.   It’s located a short walk over the millennium bridge across from St. Paul’s cathedral.  It’s about 75% free as there’s one floor with current exhibits that they charge for.  Also, check out the lounge area with couches as there are cool things for the kids.  They can draw and be creative and see their drawings projected onto the wall.  A 5-pound donation suggested not mandatory.
    4. Camden Town: Reminds me of our Greenwich Village in Manhattan.  Cool hipster edgy area with interesting vintage clothing shopping and people watching.  Go to their Camden market which used to be horse stables that were converted into many little unique booths.  Great place to find the same goods as centre city London for less than half the price.  For you, shopaholics (you know who you are, lol) also visit Harrods department store.  It takes Saks 5th avenue to a whole new level.
    5. The National Gallery: This gallery has one of the best collections of paintings in the world.  It’s located in Trafalgar square which is a fun place to just walk around.  The architecture is breathtaking!
    6. London Rock Tour: This is a bonus tidbit although it’s not free.  There are two different mini-bus tours 9-1 and 2-6 that cost about $50 each.  They are run by a former band promoter named Bob.  Walk on Abbey road and go inside abbey road studios.  See Paul McCartney’s house, the Rolling Stones sticky fingers restaurant and get great stories of these British bands on their way up.   www.Viator.com

  • 7 Facts About the Forest Hills Tennis Center

    For many years the Forest Hills Tennis Center also known as the West Side Tennis Club stood dormant!  For all intents and purposes, it was rotting away waiting for the wrecking ball to put it out of it’s misery.

    1- The FHTC has history on it’s side: Built in 1923 and renovated in 2013 the FHTC has hosted legendary tennis players such as Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Chris Evert BJ-Kingand Bjorn Borg to name a few.

    2- Rock and Roll hall of fame bands have played the FHTC: Bob Dylan is coming this summer after his 51 year hiatus as well as Paul Simon.   Iconic bands to play the FHTC include; The Beatles(64’), Rolling Stones(66’)and Jimi Hendrix(67’).  Other bands who also played “back in the day” were The Cars, Asia, Wang Chung, Yes, The Talking Heads and The Doors!

    3- The US Tennis Open left Forest Hills in 1977: After the 1977 tournament the US Open left the West Side Tennis Club and moved to Flushing Meadows, also in queens. There were small tennis tournaments held there and lesser known bands into the 1990’s until the costs to maintain the building become too high and the building was shuttered for almost 20 years.

    4- It reopened in 2013: for the Mumford & Sons concert.

    5- Now the FHTC is on the upswing: There are more renovations in store and it was just announced that the “NY Empire” world tennis team will be playing in Forest Hills.

    6-The FHTC was almost converted to condos: Many people don’t know that the West Side Tennis Club membership voted down 2 separate condo proposals.

    7-Unique to the venue: Other than being walking distance from my house there’s no parking lot or street parking in the immediate area.  It can be accessed by train or bus.

  • 10 Reasons to Stay at the Bogota, Colombia BNB Inn

    10 Reasons to Stay at the Bogota, Colombia BNB Inn


    Colombia has an old stigma as a beautiful yet dangerous place to visit.  Tourism is booming as there is so much culture and depth to this country.  I strongly suggest staying at the Bogota Bed & Breakfast Inn.

    1. Location: Nestled in cozy middle class Teusaquillo near the airport, downtown and the Bogota Botanical Garden.  Downtown is 15 minutes and a $2-3 Uber ride anywhere.  Easy one-hour flight to Medellin or Cartagena.
    2. Safety and Security: 16 high-tech security cameras and a 500 lb. steel front door with remote, nice residential area.
    3. Family-owned by a wonderful couple: Rick Estrada and Beatriz (Aunt B to me) Leon.  Rick was born in Manhattan and grew up in Florida.  Ex-military (USAF) he’s also a historian and runs the best tour.  Bea, born in Cali (Colombia) and helped transform the community.  They both speak fluent English and Spanish.
    4. The Price is Right: The only true BNB in Bogota is under $100/night including breakfast, a briefing and fast free internet, business services and so much more…
    5. Food: Omg the food is so good, they make breakfast to order.  They cook traditional American, arepa with eggs and specialty dishes like Tamel.  Also, excellent pizza and burgers as well as upscale restaurants are blocks away.
    6.  Clean and neat: They won the TripAdvisor Green Leader award for eco-friendliness.  This place is spotless!
    7. Sight-seeing galore:  A plethora of options, Monserrate mountain, Nemocon salt mine (“Los 33” Antonio Banderas Chilean minor’s movie was filmed there), graffiti walking tour, gold museum and Guatevita the flooded city.
    8. People and the scene: Cosmopolitan capital Bogota is home to warm, welcoming people who appreciate a small effort to speak Spanish.  The city offers culinary, art and live music scenes that rival Buenos Aires or Mexico.
    9. The “Rick Special Tour”: I suggest taking this tour the first 2-3 days in Bogota.  Rick can customize the trip based on your interests.  An encyclopedia of knowledge, he will give you a great picture of Colombia’s history past to present.
    10. Feels like home: Unlimited library of music, I felt comfortable for 9 days wearing my PJ’s (pants only) around the house.  Where else can you text the owners on WhatsApp and get prompt answers?  Click the website above for video on each room and book the reservation!

  • 5 Reasons to Visit Sicily

    If there’s one place I love to visit it is ‘old country’, Sicily that is. If there is one destination that is ‘bucket list worthy’ it is Sicily.

    1. Taormina: Sicily’s greatest resort, Taormina was built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea.  With great shopping and panoramic views of the sea and Mount Etna, Taormina is a must for Sicily visitors.insurance, New York City, financial services, health insurance
    2. Mount Etna: The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna offers a variety of different hikes. I was actually on the mountain in 1994 which was the last time it erupted.
    3. Syracuse and Ortygia: Siracusa is a dramatic mix of old and new. It was once a key city in the Greek empire.  Ortygia, thousands of years old is known as the old city.  Having been bombed several times, Ortygia was rebuilt in what is called Sicilian Baroque.  These wonderful places can be seen on the same day.
    4. The Godfather tour: In Fiumefreddo  (cold river) it’s about a 30-minute drive from Taormina.  I haven’t seen it advertised, however, it’s a must for Godfather fans.  The most famous scene shot there is when Michael’s Sicilian wife Appolonia blew up in a car meant for Michael.  The property owner, Franco Platania was on the set as a kid in 1971 when Godfather 1 was filmed.
    5. Food and wine: I have had several of my best all-time dishes in Sicily including Tiramisu and rice balls.  Sicily is a must especially if you have been to Italy as many feel that it’s a different country!