US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA) Fact Sheet

Year Founded: April, 2004

What is UStiA?
UStiA is a non-profit, national association of companies involved in the development, sales, marketing or implementation of travel insurance and related products or U.S. travel insurance carriers, third-party administrators and allied businesses involved in the development, administration and marketing of travel insurance and assistance products.

UStiA Office:
P.O. Box 72004
Richmond, VA 23255-2004
(800) 224-6164

UStiA Web site: www.ustravelinsurance.org

UStiA's Mission:
Ensure that travelers have affordable access to travel protection and travel assistance; Educate consumers about travel insurance and related issues; Promote fairness, integrity and a commitment to excellence in the travel insurance industry; Foster ethical and professional standards of industry conduct; Cultivate effective government relations on behalf of the travel insurance industry; Inform and assist members with matters pertaining to the industry.

UStiA’s Goals:

Create uniform and fair regulations for the industry;
Develop consistent licensing standards for agents who market travel insurance and assistance services;
Combat insurance fraud and unjust class action lawsuits that adversely impact the cost of travel insurance for consumers;
Serve as an advocate for the travel insurance industry.

UstiA Membership Standards
Members must adhere to the following requirements:

Ethical Conduct:

Provide travel insurance products and services that represent value and high quality;
Pay all valid claims fairly, promptly, accurately and courteously;
Respect the privacy of individuals by using personal information only for the purposes authorized;
Engage in fair, professional and ethical competition;
Make no misrepresentations, false or malicious statements about the products, services, staff, financial condition or business practices of other Members;
Uphold the reputation of the Association, its Members and the travel insurance industry.

Truth in Advertising:

Present their products, benefits, conditions, exclusions and prices clearly and accurately.
Not issue statements or advertisements which make false, misleading or exaggerated claims.
Ensure that its advertisements, sales materials and presentations, and public announcements are honest, factually accurate and not misleading.

UStiA Officers
UStiA President: Bradley Finkle, President, Trip Mate, Inc.
Vice President and President-elect: Ed Walker, Senior Vice President, Aegon Direct Marketing Services
UStiA Secretary/Treasurer: Paul Latchford, Vice President, AEGON Direct Marketing Services
UStiA Immediate Past President: Jon Ansell, President& CEO of World Access/Access America

UStiA Members Total Sales Volume
According to the Travel Insurance Market Survey, conducted on behalf of the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA), Americans spent more than $1 billion on travel insurance in 2004.

Total Travelers Served Annually:
Over 17 million travelers purchased travel insurance policies from UStiA member companies in 2004.

Total UStiA Membership:
41 members

Membership Categories:
Full Members: 20
Associate members: 21

Membership Category Information:
Full Members:
Insurance carriers and third party administrators (TPA), managing general agents (MGA), and managing general underwriters (MGU) who underwrite, distribute, and administer travel insurance programs.
Brokers, administrators and other entities primarily in the insurance business, who derive at least 50% of their annual revenue from travel insurance.

Associate Members:
Travel assistance companies, air ambulance companies, travel suppliers, software suppliers.

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