North America
Destination Report: The United States of America
Australian Government Raises Concerns over U.S. Travel
By JoAnne Green
September 1, 2008
 

Terrorism Alert

On Sunday, August 31, 2008, the Australian government warned of a "high risk" of terror attacks on domestic and international flights in and to the United States, urging Australian travelers to be vigilant while in the USA.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued the following travel advisories:
"We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in the United States because of the risk of terrorism.

"The United States Department of Homeland Security's Advisory System Threat Level is at Orange for all domestic and international flights, indicating a 'high' risk of terrorist attack. It is at Yellow or 'elevated' for all other sectors, indicating a significant risk of terrorist attack."

The warning also noted: "There is severe weather, including hurricane conditions, affecting the south east coastline of the United States. Australians in affected regions should adhere to all advice and evacuation requests enforced by local authorities."

Travel Advisories

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs gives the following advice Australians who are traveling, working or living in the United States: "Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas, organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy."

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office gives the following advice British people who are traveling, working or living in the United States: "We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake."

The Canadian Foreign Affairs Office gives the following advice to Canadians who are traveling, working or living in the United States: "Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country healthcare can be costly, and your health plan will cover only part of the bill at best. It is your responsibility to obtain supplementary travel insurance and understand the terms of your policy. Some credit card companies offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume that coverage is automatically included or that the card alone provides adequate coverage."

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade gives the following advice to New Zealanders "New Zealanders travelling or resident in the United States should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place that include provision for medical evacuation by air."

According to the U.S. Department of Custom and Border Protection, if it is determined that any international visitors do not have sufficient medical insurance to cover any unexpected or expected medical care while in the U.S., they can be denied entry.

How We Can Help

We at Sunburst International Risk Management and Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services are happy to provide you free consultation and free quotes for the appropriate insurance plan that meets your needs. We invite you to visit our websites at: Sunburst International Risk Management and Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services