Spring Break Dangers
Spring Break school holidays will soon be here, and millions of Americans of all ages will be traveling with families, as couples, as individuals and as part of student and friend groups throughout the country and abroad. Many are embarking upon these vacations without a firm grasp of the potential and inherent hazards.
In addition to the familiar Florida and Gulf Coast U.S. hotspots, many sunseekers are venturing south of the border to more exotic ports of call where the legal drinking age is 18 and the civic regulations and safety standards are sometimes less than one would hope. Off-road motor vehicle and recreational watercraft operation are common practices at many Latin American and Caribbean locales, and with the prevalent use of alcohol and drugs, accidents and injuries occur frequently. The actions of intoxicated and carefree spring breakers can be detrimental to themselves as they may not be aware their U.S. health insurance policies typically provide minimal coverage while overseas. However, there are other significant dangers lurking.
As tourists let loose and focus on the fun as well as their beautiful surroundings, they let their guards down, making them perfect targets for criminals. Mexico, parts of the Caribbean as well as much of Central and South America continue to be criminal breeding grounds. Tourist destinations like Tulum, Cancun, Mazatlan and Acapulco have all recently been regular locations for kidnappings, extreme gang violence and drug cartel shootouts. Anyone traveling in Latin America or the Caribbean needs to stay informed, cognizant of their surroundings and protected with sufficient insurances.
Petersen International offers a variety of protection plans for Americans traveling outside the United States for Spring Break. The USAway International Major Medical Plan provides inexpensive, short-term medical insurance with benefits including emergency medical evacuation back to the U.S. as well as options for coverage of COVID infection. Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance and Kidnap & Ransom insurance are also important products to many families with children traveling abroad. Kidnappings for ransom have become efficient sources of income for foreign organized crime outfits, and Petersen International has a product that employs both monetary benefits and a crisis response team to properly manage the safe return of persons kidnapped while traveling outside the U.S.
Spring Break travel may be fraught with dangers, but Petersen International Underwriters has the tools to protect and reassure your clients during this generally fun and exciting time of year. Call us today at (800) 345-8816 for quotes and expedited policy issuance. We can have insurance in your clients’ hands in time for their upcoming travels.