By: Omar Kaywan, Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Goose Insurance
The winter season is coming soon, and for those over the age of 55 it’s an even more stressful time of the year. Between seeing all the kids and grandkids and ordering the right presents, traveling is an added stress that can be ruined if one flight is delayed, or one road is closed. Snowbird travel season can be stressful and seem almost impossible to make sure you have all the bases covered. But considering these few things can ensure you have a smooth snowbird travel season:
Create a to-do list
Not only can a to-do list help you keep track of what needs to be done, it also feels very accomplishing to check off all the boxes! Make a list now of everything you need to do and pack before you leave – make several! One list can be focused on general travel plans such as buying insurance, checking your documents, booking flights, etc. while another could be a packing list, so you don’t leave something behind.
A checklist can help you stay organized and give you some peace of mind once you see yourself start to cross off or check every box on the list.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Original Medicare plans travel with you between states, but if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll have to check if your policy will make you face higher costs for a doctor visit out of network. A travel medical insurance policy can help cover unexpected medical bills, hospital visits, prescriptions, etc.
If you plan on flying, look for a trip cancellation/interruption travel insurance that can cover the cost of unexpected issues like an airline canceling your flight or unexpected illness. Goose Insurance offers travel insurance from an app that is quick and easy to obtain without health checks or dozens of medical history questions answer.
Keep someone in the loop
Whether you’re traveling alone, with a spouse, or even friends, it’s crucial to keep someone in the loop about your safety. Let someone such as a close friend or family member who isn’t going with you, know your departure time and when you should arrive. There’s a variety of apps on the market that can let someone you trust track your location while you’re road tripping to stay updated on your movement and be sure you arrive safely. If you’re flying, giving someone your flight number and airline can allow them to track when the plane takes off and lands.
If this designated person hasn’t heard from you in a long amount of time, or you haven’t arrived to your destination on time, they can alert authorities to make sure you’re ok.
Be safe, not sorry
As we get older, our prescription list tends to get longer. Many of us have daily medications we rely on for our health that are crucial to taking. If you’re driving and have your medications delivered to your warmer weather home instead, be sure you have enough medication to last a few extra days in case there are delays.
For snowbirds that are taking flight to warm temps, pack medication in both your carry-on and checked bag. This way, if your luggage is lost or your flight was delayed, you don’t need to take your medication late and can have enough for a few days until you can get to a pharmacy.
