"Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?"

The Department of State has issued a strong warning against travel to China, and has recommended that all travelers purchase Trip insurance.

Current quarantine measures in China include placing arriving passengers who exhibit fever or flu-like symptoms into seven-day quarantine. Although the proportion of arriving Americans being quarantined remains low, the random nature of the selection process increases the uncertainty surrounding travel to China. The selection process focuses on those sitting in close proximity to another traveler exhibiting fever or flu-like symptoms or on those displaying an elevated temperature if arriving from an area where outbreaks of 2009-H1N1 have occurred. We have reports of passengers arriving from areas where outbreaks have occurred (including the U.S. and Mexico) being placed in precautionary quarantine simply because they registered slightly elevated temperatures.
In some instances, children have been separated from their parents because either the parent or the child tested positive for 2009-H1N1 and was placed in quarantine for treatment. This situation presents the possibility of Chinese medical personnel administering medications to minors without first having consulted their parents.
The Department of State has received reports about unsuitable quarantine conditions, including the unavailability of suitable drinking water and food, unsanitary conditions, and the inability to communicate with others.
Travelers to China are reminded that all foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, are obliged to follow local procedures regarding quarantines and any other public health-related measures. The U.S. Embassy will be unable to influence the duration of stay in quarantine for affected travelers. The Chinese government will not compensate people for lost travel expenses.

Travelers to China are urged to consider purchasing Travel insurance to protect against losses in the event they are quarantined.

For more information on U.S. Government policy during a pandemic, and for travel safety information, please see the State Department’s “Pandemic/Avian Influenza” and “Remain in Country” fact sheets on http://www.travel.state.gov/. Further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, the U.S. Government pandemic influenza website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html.

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It doesn't matter if you are traveling to China or Chattanooga, you should never leave home without adequate Travel Insurance.

Call the experts at Insurance Services of America to find the right plan for you without costing a bunch of Renminbi....

800.647.4589

Save Money this Summer!

Some travelers believe they only need trip insurance when flying or leaving the country. However in today's economy, more and more people are taking their vacations closer to home.

Even on a road trip, things can still go wrong. Uninsured travelers or travelers with limited coverage could end up with more than they bargained for if they become sick or injured while vacationing.

Insurance Services of America offers travel insurance for people who are hitting the road. By using our zero cost trip option, travelers can take advantage of such benefits as rental car coverage, identity theft protection, medical or dental expenses, loss of personal effects, and MUCH more, at a very affordable rate.
Heck, they'll even secure your tee time and dining reservations!

And since we're all about helping you save money, here is today's frugal travel tip:

Many national parks are going to waive their entrance fee when you visit them during certain weekends this summer.

The weekends that you’ll want to mark on your calendar are:
1. June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
2. July 18-19, 2009
3. August 15-16, 2009

Just a few of the national parks that are included: Grand Canyon (Arizona), Bryce and Zion (Utah), Yosemite (California), Haleakala (Hawaii), Yellowstone (Montana/Wyoming), Glacier (Montana), Grand Teton (Wyoming), and Acadia (Maine).

For a complete list of the parks, go to the National parks website.

Whether your travel plans include going overseas, or staying close to home,

Insurance Services of America has a plan for you.

Give us a call at 800-647-4589.

Our experts will help you find the coverage you need at a price you can live with.

This Little Piggy Went to Mexico...

Travel season is upon us. Churches are preparing for mission trips, Summer is just around the corner, it's the start of the honeymoon season and Mexico is one of the most popular destinations for newlyweds. Although the outbreak situation in Mexico calls for caution, not alarm, it has greatly impacted the travel industry and vacationers everywhere.

It is important to prepare instead of panic.

(Remember SARS, Mad cow, or bird flu?)

The CDC reports that each year, approximately 36,000 people die from Influenza, and not the Swine variety.

So what are the symptoms of Swine Flu?


· Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
· Sore throat
· Cough
· Stuffy nose
· Chills
· Headache and body aches
· Fatigue




There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.



Still planning your trip? Remember to purchase your Trip insurance within 10 days of making your travel arrangements and you can take advantage of our Cancel for Any Reason benefit.


Already booked your trip? A Travel Medical plan from Insurance Services of America will cover you in the event of any illness, including emergency medical evacuation, if needed.





Don't let fear keep you from completing your travel plans. Know the facts, wash your hands, and buy Travel Medical insurance.

It's a dirty world...

Did you know...Hygiene comes from the name Hygeia, the Greek goddess of health and cleanliness

For Foreign Nationals visiting the United States, our International Travel Medical Plans use the Hygeia Network.

For U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States, there is NO network!

The human body is home to some 1,000 species of bacteria. There are more germs on your body than people in the United States.

Ewwww. What a yucky thought! I guess that is why so many people get sick when traveling overseas.
Another reason why you should ALWAYS invest in Travel Medical Insurance!



Monks of the Jain Dharma (a minority religion in India) are forbidden to bathe any part of their bodies besides the hands and feet, believing the act of bathing might jeopardize the lives of millions of microorganisms.

I guess it's a good thing they're monks.

Ancient Egyptians and Aztecs rubbed urine on their skin to treat cuts and burns. A key chemical in urine is known to kill fungi and bacteria.

A Travel Medical plan from Insurance Services of America will cover the necessary expenses to transport you to the nearest medical facility qualified to treat you

~ not with urine, we promise…

Excrement dumped out of windows into the streets in 18th-century London contaminated the city's water supply and forced locals to drink Gin instead.

Perhaps this is why they say “Don’t drink the water” !

TV kills! University of Arizona researchers determined that television remotes are the worst carriers of bacteria in hospital rooms, worse even than toilet handles. Remotes spread antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus, which contributes to the 90,000 annual deaths from infection acquired in hospitals.

And I don’t even want to THINK about the remote controls in hotel rooms!!!

It is now believed President James Garfield died not from the bullet fired by Charles Guiteau but because the medical team treated the president with manure-stained hands, causing a severe infection that killed him three months later.

And you thought Urine was gross!!!

Let the experts at Insurance Services of America protect your health and investment with a quality Travel Medical Plan.

It’s a dirty World out there, but don’t let the fear of illness or injury keep you from exploring it!

Useless But Interresting Travel Trivia:

On average, Americans spend five times more of their time in their cars than they do on vacation.

Approximately 20% of Americans have a passport.

The city of Las Vegas has the most hotel rooms in the world.

One American in four has yet to ride in an airplane. As for the three out of four who have, most have flown several times.

For every person who prefers an aisle seat, there are three who prefer windows.

While the average cost of air travel is about $60 per hour, using an air-phone during that plane trip can cost as much as $160 per hour.

Statistically, traveling by air is the safest means of transportation.

Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport handles more than 73 million passengers a year, making it the busiest airport in the world.

Ten percent of frequent fliers say they never check their luggage when flying.

The tail section of an airplane gives the bumpiest ride.

Odds that you'll be killed by a plane falling from the sky: one in 25 million. Odds that it will happen today: 1 in 7 trillion.

A Houston-area travel agency, offers an all-nude flight to Cancun Mexico. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude, you are allowed to take off all your clothes and roam about the cabin.

44% of hotels allow pets in their rooms

78% of cats never travel with their owners

The airplane Buddy Holly died in was called the “American Pie”

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class.

The world's first passenger train made its debut in England in 1825.

A Boeing 747's wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.

The largest plane in the world is the Russian An-225 Cossack. It has a length of 275 feet 7 inches, a wing span of 290 feet, and maximum takeoff weight of 1,322,770 pounds

The automatic pilot in the movie “Airplane” was named OTTO

TWA was the first airline to introduce regular in flight movies starting with By Love Possessed in the first class section during a scheduled internal flight from New York to Los Angeles on 19th July 1961.

Insurance Services of America has been featured in American Airlines magazine “American Way”

How I spent my Spring Break...

Dear Mom and Dad,



Spring Break is a blast, wish you were here. The ocean is just beautiful, and the water is so clear you can almost see the jellyfish before they sting you. Boy those little suckers really hurt! I think I might remember where I left my wallet, too. I sure hope so, cause for the past few days I have been existing on a diet of Chicklets that I purchased from one of the roadside natives here. I tell ya, people can be very friendly to tourists. Just yesterday, some people told me to take a hike. I thought that was very nice of them to suggest recreational activities. Unfortunately, since the airline lost one of my bags on the way down here, I didn't have my hiking boots, and when that lizard bit my ankle, it hurt almost as bad as subsequently falling down that hill.



Thankfully, my friends were able to assemble a makeshift stretcher to help me get back to the main road, and boy were we ever relieved when that nice man in the truck came by to give us a ride to the clinic. At least, I think it was a clinic. I mean, there were cots there with a bunch of sick people laying on them, and I really think that if we had waited just a little longer, someone would have assisted us eventually. I'm really not sure. I was kind of beginning to pass out from the pain and none of the people dressed like nurses spoke English. My buddy had his translation dictionary with him, and although he tried to get help, it seems the clinic wouldn't treat me unless I paid them first. Unfortunately, they did not accept Chicklets.



Don't worry about me though, my foot is still black but I am beginning to get the feeling back in my toes which is certainly a good thing when you're sleeping outdoors. There are some crazy insects around here! I sure wish the hotel wouldn't have lost my reservation.



You know what mom and dad? I've been thinking about how you told me to get Trip Insurance from Insurance Services of America. I guess I didn't think I would need it, but it sure would have been nice to have someone who could have gotten me a new hotel room, or some emergency cash when I lost my wallet, or bought me some new boots, or paid the clinic so they would treat me and get me back home safely. Just like you would have done yourself if you were here. For under 2 bucks a day, a travel medical plan could have protected me and given you peace of mind, too. But don't worry about me, mom and dad! I think I might be coming home soon. I found a company that does medical evacuations, and although it is a bit costly, at least I'll be safe. And I promise, I will totally pay you back the Fifty Thousand Dollars just as soon as I can.

See you guys soon,

Your Son.

What are you Doing?

I admit, I am addicted to Twitter.

Someone recently asked me what one does on Twitter, and all I could say was,
"I don't know, you just check in..."

Maybe the beauty of Twitter is it's simplicity. You log on, learn what someone is making for breakfast, get a tip on how to calm your baby's cough, and leave a tid bit of your own. In today's fast paced world, sometimes it is just nice to slow down and throw a thought out into the cosmos. I personally enjoy seeing what the celebrities are doing. Jimmy Kimmel Twitters while taping his show, and even takes questions from fellow Twitterers to ask his guests. Recently, a guest at an Academy Awards party was Twittering pictures from the shindig. While at the edge of my computer seat, I watched what major Hollywood A-listers were eating, wearing, and doing, and
it.
was.
Awesome.

Mostly, I enjoy following fellow travel enthusiasts like myself. I discover groups with similar interests, and always pick up some useful tips. Check us out on Twitter!

Just don't forget to continue reading my blog, too!