Monthly Archive for July, 2009

Honduras - NEW Travel Warning

New Travel Alert29 July 2009, ”Due to the current unstable political and security situation, the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa recommends American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras until further notice.” - U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras

“The Embassy advises American citizens residing in and visiting Honduras to restrict travel to within city limits when possible and to be aware of possible road blocks that might affect mobility around the country. The government of Honduras has announced curfews with varying hours almost daily. Several areas near the border with Nicaragua have implemented daytime curfews in anticipation of large demonstrations. The Embassy continues to monitor this situation closely and strongly recommends American citizens monitor local TV and radio each evening for current curfew times and abide by these restrictions.”

“The U.S. Embassy has advised its staff to restrict travel to within city limits.”

“Demonstrations both against and in favor of the new regime are expected to continue in the coming days throughout the country. Demonstrations to date have been generally non-violent and there have been few reports of injuries.”

“Tegucigalpa’s Toncontin Airport will be open for normal business until further notice. We advise travelers to contact their airlines directly to confirm.”

“Those with flights scheduled with American Airlines may wish to call (504) 216-4800 (Honduras) or 1-800-433-7300 (United States). Those traveling with Delta Airlines may wish to call 1-800-241-4141 (United States and Central America) or (504) 550-1616 (San Pedro Sula). Those with flights scheduled with Continental Airlines may wish to call (504) 220-0999 (Tegucigalpa), (504) 557-4141 (San Pedro Sula), or 1-800-231-0856 (United States). Taca Airlines and its affiliates have cancelled domestic flights for the past week for reasons unrelated to the political unrest.”

“Most of Honduras’ land borders with Guatemala and El Salvador are currently open to commercial and private vehicles. The borders between Honduras and Nicaragua have been closed intermittently since Friday, July 24.”

“The Embassy again strongly recommends that American citizens avoid large gatherings and do not try to pass roadblocks if they encounter them. U.S. citizens should monitor the situation via media sources, including tv and radio when possible, and via the internet.”

“Barring changes in the security situation, the Consular Section will be open for normal business. This includes the immigrant, non-immigrant and American Citizens Services units at the Consular Section at the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa and the American Citizen Services unit at the Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula.”

10 Days Only - Receive a $10 Gas Card When You Refer a Friend

$10 Gas Card When You Refer Your FriendReceive a $10 Gas Card for each new referral.  There are no limits!  Visit http://www.myfriendsgivemegas.com/ for details and refer all your friends.  Thank you for your business and we look forward to providing your friends with International Health and Evacuation Insurance.

Don’t Let Traffic Slow Your Mission Trip?

road workThere are a few variables that even the most organized leaders cannot plan for. 

A few are:

1. Inclement Weather
2. Flat tires and transportation problems
3. Family emergencies
4. Traffic

Unforeseen emergencies happen but traffic shouldn’t slow you down or cause you to miss your mission trip. Call 511 on your telephone for the latest traffic, road closures and current local driving conditions. The service is free. Do you have a handheld device or want to check online, then visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/ for the latest road and traffic info.

We also offer trip insurance which reimburses you for unrefundable travel expenses if you have to cancel or if you miss your trip due to any of the above reason.  Call us at 800.647.4589 or email us at health@missionaryhealth.net for a quote.

Easy and Accurate Currency Converter

Currency Converter

This converter allows you to know today’s exchange rate between more than 120 international currencies. The rates are provided by Reuters and are updated at the end of every day, at approximately 5:00 pm Eastern Time (US).

Missionary on Furlough is Diagnosed with H1N1 “Swine Flu”

This morning a client of ours who is a misssionary in Japan but here in the US on furlough called me.  His family has only been here a couple weeks and his daughter was at summer camp when she became ill.  She was taken to a local Urgent Care center and was diagnosed with H1N1 A.K.A. the swine flu. 

The entire family is under quarentine and have been prescribed TamiFlu.  His daughter is expected to make a full recovery and her medical expenses will be covered since they purchased our Liaison Continent plan.   If you are missionary returning to the US, then we recommend purchasing a temporary health insurance policy to reduce the financial risk of an unforeseen illness or accident.  Please don’t hesitate to call us at 800.647.4589 or 001.480.821.9052 for a quote or email us at health@missionaryhealth.net

American Airline Increases Baggage Fees

If you are flying within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada on American Airlines, or any of it’s local affiliates, after Aug. 13, then you can expect to pay $20 for the first checked bag, up from $15, and a second piece of luggage will cost $30, up from $25.

Good news for overseas mission teams, the fees do not apply to international travel outside the US, US territories and Canada.

NEW US State Dept. Travel Alert for Niger

travel alertThe Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger immediately before and after the constitutional referendum on August 4, 2009, and recommends against all non-emergency travel to Niger at this time. This Travel Alert expires on August 31, 2009.

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to take responsibility for their own personal safety and security. American citizens should keep abreast of local events, monitor local news sources, and maintain heightened situational awareness at all times.

The U.S. Embassy in Niamey is located on Rue des Ambassades. The Embassy’s mailing address is B.P. 11201, Niamey, Republic of Niger. The Embassy’s telephone number is (227) 20-72-26-61. For after-hours emergencies involving American citizens, please call (227) 20-72-31-41. The Embassy’s web site is http://niamey.usembassy.gov/index.html.

Updated information on travel and security in Niger may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Niger and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

5 Tips to Protect Your Email While Traveling

450px-neon_internet_cafe_open_24_hoursI was reading a USA Today article about a man using a shared computer in a hostel in Rome.  When he returned home he found out someone had hijacked his account and sent the following email to his entire address book,

“Sorry i did not get you informed about my short trip to london … i was attacked on my way to the hotel by some hoodlums and they took away all my belongings,”

Most of his friends knew it was spam, but one of his friends took it seriously and sent $2,000.  They never caught the hacker.  Here are a couple tips for protecting your email and identity.

1. Create a temporary account with a public email account such as GMAIL, YAHOO, HOTMAIL, etc… For example, “adaminturkey2009@yahoo.com” and import only the contacts you want to touch base with during your trip.

2. Check your sent box to find out if someone has logged into your email and sent messages.  Change your email password routinely (preferably from a secure computer).  If you are going to post comments on Facebook or Twitter, then change those passwords also.  Need assistance in creating a strong password, then check out microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx.

3. Beware of key logging software or video cameras which are in close proximity.  Do not login to banks or websites that require you to enter financial or personal information.

4. Whenever possible use cash at internet cafes rather than swiping a credit card or even better find a hostel, hotel or coffee shop with free internet access.  Check out http://www.wififreespot.com/ for locations with free WiFi and Internet access.

5. Before surfing the web and checking your email, make sure you disable file sharing http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874.  Then afterwards in Windows go to “Tools” and click on “Delete Browsing History” to erase all the websites you have visited.

 With a few precautions you can save yourself from some unscrupulous computer hacker giving you an unnecessary headache.

Have Your Mission Trip Plans Changed?

Helen called this morning and informed me one of her team members could not go on the mission trip and asked if she could cancel his Day Tripper policy.  I told her that’s no problem and refunded his $540 premium. 

We can make changes to your Atlas or Day Tripper policy or even cancel the policy for a full refund anytime prior to the effective date.  We understand plans can change.  Email your requests at health@missionaryhealth.net or fax us your request to 866-793.4779 (toll free within the U.S.A.).

Print a Duplicate or Extra Insurance ID Card

Did you loose your ID card?  Or do you want to leave a copy of your insurance ID card with a friend or family member while you are traveling? 

Visit our Client Zone and enter your policy ID number and birth date and access and print a copy of your ID card.  You can also extend your coverage, locate an international doctor, pre-notify a doctor office visit or hospitalization and receive up to date travel warnings for your destination.  You can access information for the following policies: Amigo, Atlas, Atlas Professional, Citizen Secure, Citizen Secure - Economy and Day Tripper.

Don’t know your policy ID number then email us at health@missionaryhealth.net or call us at (800) 647-4589 or (480) 821-9052 for personal service.