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When you are planning your vacation in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, we hope the following insurance tips may be of benefit to you.

Please, please remember to buy adequate travel insurance, especially for medical cover.  We recommend a minimum of $10 million coverage.

The USA is not a place to travel to without proper cover.  They do not have a National Health Service like we do in the UK and costs can be extremely high.

If you visit a hospital or medical centre, the first thing they will ask is if you are insured.  Then they will ask what is wrong with you.

If you go onto the web, you will find a multitude of companies offering travel insurance to the USA.  This is often much cheaper than taking out insurance through a travel agent.  We have a multi trip annual policy covering 2 adults and 2 children and we pay just £70 per year.  Always take out your insurance as soon as you have booked the flight / villa / accommodation.  This will insure you are covered immediately.  Do not wait until just before your holiday.

Make sure you take the policy with you on holiday.  In the event that you do need medical help at a hospital or medical centre, they will ask if you are insured and able to pay for treatment.  You should phone your insurer immediately to advise them that you are ill and request authorization from them for the treatment.  Costs can be very expensive.  I had pneumonia a few years back, and the treatment including x-rays, blood test and a few hours in hospital came to over £2,000.  Fortunately, I was fully covered and only had to pay a £35 excess.  Nowadays, our policy does not even have an excess.

Minor treatments by doctors can also be expensive compared to the UK.  By the time you have had a consultation and some medication, the bill can be up to £200.  Check you policy to see if you can obtain treatment up to a certain limit before you need your insurers ok to proceed.  If this is the case, be sure to keep all receipts as these will be required by your insurer (without them you may not be reimbursed).  If possible, obtain the name of the doctor you see as this may help in the event of any queries.

The other form of cover you should obtain is for lost or damaged luggage (either by accident or theft).  If you do need to make a claim for lost luggage, you need to report it to the airport authorities if the loss is at the airport or to the police if it is in Florida while you are on holiday.  You will need an incident number to give to your insurer.

Always remember to lock the villa, keep your wallet hidden, and just be cautious as you would in England and the chance of losing valuables is very small.

Have a great holiday in your Orlando Disney villa.