System and method for a combination group and individual travel insurance program
First Claim
1. A method for modifying group travel insurance comprising:
- an international travel organization buying a group insurance program that has the capability to allow individual upgrades that includes coverage for members of the group consisting of travelers who are planning to travel in a group with said organization, said traveler'"'"'s family members and said traveler'"'"'s traveling companions wherein said family members and said traveling companions are traveling under the program as is said traveler;
a disseminator chosen from the group whose members consist of said international travel organization, a program manager, a broker, a program administrator, an insurance broker, and a risk taker disseminating information about said group insurance program purchased by said organization to said travelers;
said group insurance program adding an individual insurance component to said group insurance plan while allowing travelers to use both group and individual insurance products;
said disseminator providing information to said travelers regarding the availability of the individual choice option to said travelers and referring said travelers to an e-commerce means provided by a member of the group consisting of said risk taker and said international travel organization;
said travelers then visiting said website and making voluntary upgrade choices using said website'"'"'s functionality;
said travelers paying premiums for said coverage by choosing a member of the group consisting of utilizing a commercially available online payment mechanism provided by said website and mailing payment to a designated payee;
said coverage not being upgraded until said traveler'"'"'s purchase of upgraded coverage is confirmed;
said coverage being upgraded before said premium is received; and
said travelers then receiving a communication of a type chosen from the group consisting of email, SMS text message, paper letter, downloaded confirmation communication, and fax, from a member of the group consisting of said website, said program manager, and said administrator, wherein said communication confirms and binds said individual upgrades of coverage.
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Abstract
The present invention allows travel organizations to ensure that basic group, or “Core,” travel medical coverage is in effect for their travelers while allowing travelers the ability to upgrade the “Core” insurance if needed or desired. Thus, the organization need not purchase excess insurance, thereby reducing the organization'"'"'s liability for their group purchase decision. Until now, combining group and individual travel medical insurance has been impossible. Individual travel medical insurance policies could be customized, but travelers covered by a group policy had to accept the coverage their organizations chose. The present invention allows travelers with different needs and tastes from around the world to customize group travel insurance coverage according to their needs and desires. By offering choice, the present invention reduces the likelihood that travelers can successfully claim later that insurance required under the group program was inadequate.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for modifying group travel insurance comprising:
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an international travel organization buying a group insurance program that has the capability to allow individual upgrades that includes coverage for members of the group consisting of travelers who are planning to travel in a group with said organization, said traveler'"'"'s family members and said traveler'"'"'s traveling companions wherein said family members and said traveling companions are traveling under the program as is said traveler; a disseminator chosen from the group whose members consist of said international travel organization, a program manager, a broker, a program administrator, an insurance broker, and a risk taker disseminating information about said group insurance program purchased by said organization to said travelers; said group insurance program adding an individual insurance component to said group insurance plan while allowing travelers to use both group and individual insurance products; said disseminator providing information to said travelers regarding the availability of the individual choice option to said travelers and referring said travelers to an e-commerce means provided by a member of the group consisting of said risk taker and said international travel organization; said travelers then visiting said website and making voluntary upgrade choices using said website'"'"'s functionality; said travelers paying premiums for said coverage by choosing a member of the group consisting of utilizing a commercially available online payment mechanism provided by said website and mailing payment to a designated payee; said coverage not being upgraded until said traveler'"'"'s purchase of upgraded coverage is confirmed; said coverage being upgraded before said premium is received; and said travelers then receiving a communication of a type chosen from the group consisting of email, SMS text message, paper letter, downloaded confirmation communication, and fax, from a member of the group consisting of said website, said program manager, and said administrator, wherein said communication confirms and binds said individual upgrades of coverage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification