Insurance Since this is supposed to be an insurance update, I will make a few comments as to what Medipac is seeing in the snowbird market. Approximately 35% of our clients have already returned this year and I expect that there will be many more as the winter settles in. What is interesting to us is that we have received approximately the same number of brand-new snowbird clients. We assume that this is partially because we cover COVID-19 directly and have done so since the beginning of this weird pandemic. One thing that bothered us was the large number of ads on the internet that targeted snowbirds and stated on the front website pages that they “Covered COVID.” When you read the actual policy document, usually buried deep in their website, there is no medical coverage if there is an “essential travel” warning in effect. This may mean that there is NO coverage for COVID-19 or anything else. I recommend that, if you were swayed by this and purchased elsewhere, you may want to read your policy again. What everyone really wants to know is how many snowbirds are dying from COVID19? How many are hospitalized? And how many are just getting sick? I can only speak fromour experience with insuring thousands of snowbirds in the United States since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not one of our snowbirds died from COVID-19. We have had only two hospitalizations related to COVID-19 and a dozen cases in which people have tested positive for COVID-19. We did take three or four additional medical calls which may have been mild COVID-19 infections; these people simply stayed home, self-medicated and got better. My last comment is that we were asked to dedicate a page to the Federal Government to outline their position on COVID-19 and travelling and, in fairness, I agreed to do so. Make sure that you read it and then you can make your own decision about maintaining your treasured lifestyle. Despite the current COVID climate, Pat and I will be flying to Florida just after a Christmas spent with our grandkids, if our government allows us to celebrate. I will wear a mask and wash my hands and socially distance and I will be very careful. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful, COVID-free New Year wherever you are. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 15
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