Business near their home. In many cases, APASI’s members die less than 500 miles from their homes and the Travel Plan covers deaths occurring just 75 miles from home. People travel 75 or more miles from home for many more reasons than for vacation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Americans travel 11 billion miles each day just traveling from one point to another. In addition to traveling for shopping, dining, visiting friends and family, or for business, tens of thousands of people travel more than 75 miles for specialized medical care. How We Are Different Unlike other travel plans, the APASI Guaranteed Travel Assurance Plan covers deaths at medical facilities, even while out of the country. Our competitors will not cover a member if they have traveled out of the country for a medical procedure. Additionally, APASI’s plan covers a member for up to 180 consecutive days away from home. This is particularly relevant in today’s pandemic situation, where people have found themselves sheltering in place with family or friends instead of in their own homes. Our members pay a one-time fee, and they are covered for life. Unlike other travel plans, our plan is backed by a unique insurance policy written especially for APASI by a large insurance company. This protects every single member. We want our members to be comfortable and secure in their plan for life. APASI offers a guaranteed lifetime membership above and beyond other Travel Assurance Plans. APASI’s 450,000 members enjoy coverage that includes exclusive benefits, and priceless peace of mind whenever and wherever they travel. Travel Plans and Preneed Sales Support When a person starts the funeral pre-arrangement process, they’re focused on one thing: preparing for their death. They’re tying up every potential loose end so their families won’t have to struggle financially or scramble to make decisions at an already difficult time. These are the very same reasons our preneed partners need to offer APASI’s comprehensive Travel Plan Membership — and why the preneed arrangement meeting is the perfect time to offer it to the clients you are meeting with. If the unthinkable happens when your client is away from home, APASI will carefully and lovingly manage every step in the tedious process of bringing a member home. APASI does not sell their travel plans directly to consumers. Instead, we work primarily with agents who sell our Travel Assurance Plans and we routinely forward calls from consumers to one of our partners. Recently, APASI streamlined and simplified our process for agents to get started offering our plans. In addition to thorough virtual training for agents, APASI provides printed materials, displays, and videos to help market and educate clients on the benefits of a travel plan. Producers also receive generous incentives for selling, APASI’s, Travel Assurance Plan Membership. Comparing Costs The biggest benefit for members may be the amount of money they will save if the unthinkable happens while they are away. Often, though, it is that “unthinkable” aspect that keeps a person from buying a travel plan. Most funeral homes and preneed companies charge around $450 for a lifetime membership in the APASI travel plan and unlike other travel plans, APASI’s members’ coverage is guaranteed. Your funeral home or preneed companies sets the price you want to charge and then just pays APASI a portion to secure the coverage. The remainder remains with your funeral home. Since 2004, we have saved our members’ families, approximately $8 million and countless hours of stress, due to the fact the member had a Guaranteed Travel Assurance Plan in place from APASI. Andrew Pavela is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at APASI. www.ogr.org | The Independent® 29
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