Travelers heading to the South Pacific region should be aware of the risk of cyclones during the period of December through April, according to the U.S. Department of State. The threat of cyclones originating in the area could cause problems for your trip.

While most vacations in the South Pacific pass without any negative incident, you should monitor weather reports and take the appropriate action should a tropical cyclone hit the region. Make sure your trip is protected with trip cancellation insurance. Affected areas include Australia, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, as well as French Polynesia.

Make sure you have up-to-date travel insurance to cover a tropical cyclone if it hits your vacation while you are abroad.

Full post…

Cadogan Keelan Westall has set itself a target of more than doubling new business growth in 2011.

To achieve its vision, the commercial insurer, part of the Bourbon group, has strengthened its leadership team, refined its product range, increased its focus on overseas activities and set up a new London office, to complement its Hampshire base.

The firm has recorded new business income of over half a million for they year to date and head of business, Brett Sainty, says: “These are exciting times for Cadogan Keelan Westall and I am pleased to confirm that despite the current economic climate, we are well positioned to meet and then exceed our new business target for 2011.”

He adds: “The opening of the City office is a major step in further developing our UK and global presence as well as improving access to insurers and underwriting teams.”

According to Mr Sainty, partnerships with professional services companies and increased income from fund management companies are both contributing to its expansion.

The ability to pay for healthcare is an ongoing issue for many Americans, especially as health costs continue to increase. But a recent study conducted by Thomson Reuters found that Americans feel more optimistic about their ability to pay for their healthcare than they did at the end of 2010.

This is especially true in the area of elective surgeries, something more people are willing to pay for than they were in 2010. But what’s interesting in the study is that there was a decline in the number of people expecting to pay for their prescriptions. D

Full post…

“Companies operating in politically volatile regions of the world may soon find they are unable to retain sufficient insurance coverage to protect their assets and staff.”

The warning comes in a new report from Willis, which points out that insurers offering protection against political risk and terrorism are re-evaluating their terms and prices, meaning that firms need to get the right cove in place in case insurers “close the door”.

Companies also run the risk of discovering that their existing policies do not cover the type of political unrest seen in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, the broker adds.

Full post…

While cruises are statistically the safest form of vacation travel you can take, there are a few health and safety considerations you should be aware of. Make sure your cruise is happy and healthy with cruise insurance and some consideration of cruise safety.

As soon as you reach your cabin, familiarize yourself with the safety procedures on board and what you need to do in an emergency. Pay attention to the initial safety broadcasts and read the information your ship provides for your own benefit.

Take care of yourself and your belongings on shore excursions. Cruise passengers are sometimes targeted by petty criminals in the ports you visit.

Full post…

President Barack Obama plans to make a speech on Wednesday that addresses numerous debt issues, including that of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Media reports predict his discussion will lean towards reducing spending in both programs to contribute to reducing a $4 trillion deficit over the next 10 years.

Cutting Excess Health Care Spending a Must

Some say the president is placing the need to cut excess health care spending in the nations biggest benefit programs at the top of his agenda on Wednesday as he proposes ways to reduce the deficit.

While some of his plans contrast the $5 trillion in cuts his Republican opponents proposeincluding his push to increase taxes for the wealthysome worry his proposal to make cuts in Medicaid and Medicare fall too closely in line with Republican ideas.

Currently, he is expected to make changes to the programs, but there is no official word beyond speculation of what those changes will be.

Republican Suggestions for Medicaid and Medicare

On the Republican side, lawmakers pushing their $5 trillion deficit reduction proposal also want to make cuts in the benefits programs.

Full post…