Snowbirds: On the road again... - Fiscal Agents Money Management Newsletter

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Money Management Newsletter: General Interest
Snowbirds: On the road again...

Compiled by Tracey Byram, President, Blue Planet Travel, Cruise and Vacation specialists

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 traveling 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.