Latest news with #Epic
CNBC
10 hours ago
- CNBC
Best adventure travel insurance of 2025
Travel insurance can be a huge help, even if you plan to just lounge by the pool. But if you've signed up for mountain biking, rock climbing or a jungle safari, you'll want adventure travel coverage. An adventure travel add-on to your standard travel insurance policy extends coverage to activities that are usually excluded. That includes medical coverage for injuries sustained in high-risk activities and reimbursement for the damage or loss of any specialty gear. CNBC Select reviewed more than 20 travel insurance carriers with adventure travel benefits and picked the best for cost, coverage, availability, claims filing and more. (See our methodology for more on how we made our selections.) Faye has one single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals. Emergency medical: $250,000Medical evacuation: $500,000Personal effects: $150 per item (up to $2,000 total) Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. Who's this for? Starting at just over $5 a day, Faye's plans automatically cover dozens of activities like white water rafting, skiing, horseback riding, kayaking and mountain climbing. Standout benefits: Feeling more daring? The Adventure & Extreme Sports endorsement adds parachuting, bullriding and other daredevil activities. Faye will also cover up to $2,500 in emergency veterinary expenses or up to $250 in additional kenneling costs. Silver, Gold and Platinum plans with add-ons including a collision damage waiver (for Gold and Platinum), lost ski days or golf rounds and CFAR insurance (for Platinum plan) Emergency medical: $250,000 for Platinum PlanMedical evacuation: $1 million for Platinum PlanPersonal effects: $500 per item, up to $3,000 total Add-on with Platinum plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if you purchase within 14 days of booking ($50,000 maximum). Available with Gold and Platinum plans if purchased within 14 days of trip deposit. Who's this for? AXA Assistance USA's Platinum Plan reimbursers you for missed ski days, prepaid lessons and lift tickets if your ski trip gets derailed by closed trails, inclement weather or insufficient snow. Standout benefits: The Platinum Plan also offers a collision damage waiver, which can be helpful if you're planning to rent a car to get to the slopes. Standard, Explorer, Epic single-trip plans and annual/multi-trip plan, with CFAR available for top-tier policiesEmergency medical: $125,000 for Standard Plan, $150,000 for Explorer Plan, $250,000 for Epic PlanMedical evacuation: $400,000 for Standard Plan, $500,000 for Explorer Plan, $700,000 for Epic PlanPersonal effects: $1,000 for Standard Plan, $2,000 for Explorer Plan, $3,000 for Epic Plan Add-on for Explorer and Epic plans that covers 75% of nonrefundable costs if purchased seven days before initial deposit. (Not available in New York.) Available with Explorer and Epic plans purchased seven days before first deposit. Who's this for? World Nomads' Explorer Plan covers more than 200 thrill-seeking activities, including free-style skiing, ice climbing, hang gliding and shark-cage diving. The top-tier Epic Plan is aimed at bucket-list adventures like glacier walking and deep-sea diving. Standout benefits: World Nomads lets you buy a policy even after you've started your trip, with coverage starting the very next day. Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise insurance. Add-ons include Cancel for Any Reason coverage and a travel inconvenience benefit Emergency medical: $50,000 for Essential Plan, $250,000 for Deluxe Plan, $500,000 for Platinum PlanMedical evacuation: $200,000 for Essential Plan, $500,000 for Deluxe Plan, $1 million for Platinum PlanPersonal effects: $750 for Essential Plan, $1,500 for Deluxe Plan, $2,500 for Platinum Plan ($250 per item) Add-on to Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe or Platinum plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable costs when purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment Available if policy is purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit. Who's this for? Travel Insured International's plans offer up to $500,000 for medical expenses and $1 million for evacuation, higher than most competitors. While most travel insurance excludes dental care, Travel Insured International covers up to $750 worth of emergency treatment. Standout benefits: The Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum plan comes with an optional extreme sports medical upgrade that lifts the exclusion if you ride or drive in any races or participate in speed or endurance competitions. Basic, mid-level and top-tier plans, plus policies just for flights, cruises and adventure travel. There are no add-ons but the LuxuryCare plan includes an option to upgrade to CFAR coverage. Add-on to LuxuryCare plan that reimburses 50% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 15 days of booking Available with any plan purchased within 14 days of trip deposit. Who's this for? Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's AdrenalineCare plan reimburses up to $500 if your golf or other sporting gear is delayed more than six hours. If your equipment is lost, you can get reimbursed up to $1,500. Standout benefits: AdrenalineCare covers $50,000 in emergency medical coverage and $750,000 in evacuation coverage. A pre-existing condition waiver is available if purchased within 14 days of the initial trip deposit. Travel insurance typically covers common inconveniences like canceled, interrupted and delayed trips, as well as delayed or lost luggage, unexpected medical expenses and emergency evacuations. Most standard policies exclude losses or injuries resulting from high-risk activities, but you may be able to add an adventure travel rider or upgrade your plan and get covered for things like: The list of activities varies by carrier and there may be limits on certain approved activities, like coverage for scuba diving that is limited to a certain depth. Even the most generous insurance policy will exclude certain activities. Again, these will vary by carrier, but often include: Travel to certain destinations may also be excluded, including active war zones, sites of natural disasters and destinations the U.S. has issued travel advisories against, like North Korea and Cuba. Your insurance company is assuming more risk, so whether you choose add-on coverage or an upgraded plan, covering adventure travel is more expensive than a standard policy. According to travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, the average adventure travel insurance policy costs about $27 per day. For a 15-day trip, that works out to be about $408. However, your exact cost will vary based on the activities you need to cover, your age, and how much coverage you're getting. Below, we compared the cost of a standard policy with one including adventure travel coverage for a 30-year-old visiting the United Kingdom for a week. Adventure travel insurance covers high-risk activities most standard policies exclude, like sky diving and rock climbing. It can be obtained as an add-on to a traditional plan or as a specialty policy. Skiing is covered by most travel insurance companies, although some include it with a basic plan and others require policyholders to purchase an add-on. Read your policy documents to see if it's included automatically by your provider. Each provider has its own list of excluded activities and approved activities may be restricted to certain elevations or depths. In addition, participation in professional athletics and injuries resulting from drug or alcohol use or from intentional self-harm are almost never covered. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. To research the best travel insurance companies, we compiled over 50 data points on more than 10 travel insurance companies. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. To determine the best adventure travel insurance companies, CNBC Select analyzed more than 10 top providers based on cost, coverage options, add-ons, customer service, and the variety of activities and sports they cover. We looked for companies that included adventure activities in their offerings, prioritizing those that included them in base policies. We also considered gear or equipment coverage policies and prioritized brands that offered high medical limits. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. Based on these criteria, our picks for the best adventure travel insurance are:
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Epique Realty Triumphs Reaching Nationwide Presence, Announces Expansion to All 50 States at PowerCON 2025
Keynote Speaker Simon T. Bailey Declares the Epique Agent-First Movement "Legendary," Citing Company's "Heart" as Key to Explosive Growth NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESS Newswire / June 27, 2025 / In the most significant announcement in its meteoric history, Epique Realty confirmed that it has achieved a full national footprint, with brokerage operations now officially available in all 50 U.S. states. And the packed audience was completely enthralled on the first day of its annual PowerCON conference held at the iconic Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. The historic milestone, achieved in less than three years, marks the company's transformation from a disruptive Texas startup into a national powerhouse, validating its agent-first model on a coast-to-coast scale. All three Epique Co-Founders, CEO Josh Miller, CFO Janice Delcid and COO Christopher Miller made a unified announcement: "Less than three years ago, Epique was an idea. Today, it is a national movement. Reaching all 50 states is not just a measure of growth; it is proof of our philosophy. It proves that when you build a brokerage that genuinely works for the agent with a culture of radical generosity at its core, there are no limits. This achievement belongs to every agent who believed in a better way." The power of that culture was the central theme of the day's electrifying keynote address from the incomparable Author Simon T. Bailey. He ignited the room with his message on mindset and momentum, but his most powerful observation was his simplest: "Epique has heart." Bailey explained that the company's name, the French spelling for "Epic," also carries the meaning of "Legendary"-a status he believes Epique is achieving precisely because its culture is changing industry standards from the inside out. The 50-state announcement, together with transformative sessions and Bailey's unforgettable insights, cemented Day 1 as a landmark moment for the company and its agents. Stay tuned-Day 2 is here and promises to deliver more incredible announcements, free benefits, and resources that fuel agent success. As Day 2 begins, the message is clear: the future doesn't wait, and the Epique movement is just getting started. About Epique Realty Epique Realty is a trailblazing, agent-first real estate brokerage committed to empowering its agents through a comprehensive suite of free resources and benefits including extraordinary support, award-winning AI technology, and a culture of radical generosity that fuels agent success. By questioning industry norms and putting agents at the center of its universe, Epique is not just transforming the real estate market-it is defining the future. #BeEpiqueLearn more at Barbara Simpson | PR and Communications 281-773-7842 | Barbara@ SOURCE: Epique Realty
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Epique Realty Triumphs Reaching Nationwide Presence, Announces Expansion to All 50 States at PowerCON 2025
Keynote Speaker Simon T. Bailey Declares the Epique Agent-First Movement 'Legendary,' Citing Company's 'Heart' as Key to Explosive Growth NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESS Newswire / June 27, 2025 / In the most significant announcement in its meteoric history, Epique Realty confirmed that it has achieved a full national footprint, with brokerage operations now officially available in all 50 U.S. states. And the packed audience was completely enthralled on the first day of its annual PowerCON conference held at the iconic Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. The historic milestone, achieved in less than three years, marks the company's transformation from a disruptive Texas startup into a national powerhouse, validating its agent-first model on a coast-to-coast scale. All three Epique Co-Founders, CEO Josh Miller, CFO Janice Delcid and COO Christopher Miller made a unified announcement: 'Less than three years ago, Epique was an idea. Today, it is a national movement. Reaching all 50 states is not just a measure of growth; it is proof of our philosophy. It proves that when you build a brokerage that genuinely works for the agent with a culture of radical generosity at its core, there are no limits. This achievement belongs to every agent who believed in a better way.' The power of that culture was the central theme of the day's electrifying keynote address from the incomparable Author Simon T. Bailey. He ignited the room with his message on mindset and momentum, but his most powerful observation was his simplest: 'Epique has heart.' Bailey explained that the company's name, the French spelling for 'Epic,' also carries the meaning of 'Legendary"-a status he believes Epique is achieving precisely because its culture is changing industry standards from the inside out. The 50-state announcement, together with transformative sessions and Bailey's unforgettable insights, cemented Day 1 as a landmark moment for the company and its agents. Stay tuned-Day 2 is here and promises to deliver more incredible announcements, free benefits, and resources that fuel agent success. As Day 2 begins, the message is clear: the future doesn't wait, and the Epique movement is just getting started. About Epique Realty Epique Realty is a trailblazing, agent-first real estate brokerage committed to empowering its agents through a comprehensive suite of free resources and benefits including extraordinary support, award-winning AI technology, and a culture of radical generosity that fuels agent success. By questioning industry norms and putting agents at the center of its universe, Epique is not just transforming the real estate market-it is defining the future. #BeEpique Learn more at Barbara Simpson | PR and Communications 281-773-7842 | [email protected] SOURCE: Epique Realty press release
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Fortnite players ‘tricked' into unwanted purchases are being refunded — here's how to apply
PHILADELPHIA — The US Federal Trade Commission is sending out the latest round of refunds to consumers it says were 'tricked' into purchases they didn't want from Fortnite maker Epic Games — and eligible players who haven't been compensated yet still have time to apply. In an announcement this week, the FTC said it was distributing more than 969,000 refunds totaling over $126 million to consumers on Wednesday and Thursday. That follows the regulator's first round of payments amounting to more than $72 million, which went out in December 2024. The FTC is sending out payments to consumers who claim they were 'tricked' into making purchases in the video game Fortnite. marinv – The refunds are part of a $520 million settlement that Epic agreed to pay back in 2022 — to address complaints revolving around children's privacy and payment methods on its popular Fortnite video game. At the time, the FTC had alleged that the gaming giant used deceptive online design tactics to trick Fortnite players, including children, into making unintended purchases 'based on the press of a single button.' Consumers could be charged while doing something as simple as attempting the wake the game from sleep mode, for example, or by pressing a nearby button when trying to preview an item, the agency said. The FTC also accused Epic of blocking some users who disputed the charges from accessing the content they purchased. Beyond a $275 million fine related to collecting personal information for players under the age of 13, the settlement, which was finalized in 2023, included $245 million in customer refunds. Charlie Gasparino has his finger on the pulse of where business, politics and finance meet Sign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Between December's payments and the refunds sent out this week, about $198 million of that has been sent out — leaving roughly $47 million left to be distributed. The latest refunds are being doled out to consumers who filed a valid claim before Feb. 14 — meaning that any claims filed after that date are still under review, according to the FTC. And the FTC also says it's reopening the claims process. Eligible consumers who have not been compensated yet now have until July 9 to file a claim. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! If accepted, the refunds come in the form of checks or PayPal payments. To apply and learn more about the settlement, users should visit the FTC's website. People who are eligible for these payouts include Fortnite players who were charged in-game currency for items they didn't want or saw their account locked after complaining to a credit card company about wrongful charges between January 2017 and September 2022 — as well as parents whose kids made charges on their credit cards without their knowledge from January 2018 through November 2018. The Associated Press reached out to Epic for comment on Thursday. At the time the settlement was announced in December 2022, Epic said it accepted the agreement because it wanted 'to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players.' The Cary, North Carolina-based company added that it was already rolling out changes 'to ensure our ecosystem meets the expectations of our players and regulators, which we hope will be a helpful guide for others in our industry.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Parents Have Two More Weeks to Claim FTC Refunds from Fortnite
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Parents and Fortnite players have two more weeks to apply for a refund from Fortnite maker Epic Games, after the gaming giant was alleged to be violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by the FTC and subsequently entered into a settlement. Epic Games was accused by the FTC of "unlawfully [charging] players for unwanted purchases, [letting] children rack up unauthorized charges without their parents' permission," and more. The company agreed to pay a penalty of $520 million in 2022, and $245 million of that money is being used to refund some of those purchases to players in the US. Players engaging in combat in a promotional screenshot for Fortnite. Players engaging in combat in a promotional screenshot for Fortnite. Epic Games The first round of payouts came last year, with $72 million being paid out initially, rising to $126 million refunded to 969,173 players in the second round, which is set to pay out soon. Affected players can apply for a third round of payments, set to be paid out later this year and early next year, but they need to act quickly, as applications close on July 9, 2025. Who's Eligible for a Fortnite Refund? In order to be eligible for a Fortnite refund, you need to meet one or more of the following requirements: You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022 Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018 Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges You also need to be a resident of the US, and to complete a claim form you need to be at least 18 years of age. Players under 18 are encouraged to get a parent or guardian to complete a claim for them. How to Apply for a Fortnite Refund To apply for a Fortnite refund, double check you meet the eligibility requirements above. You'll then need to go to the Fortnite Refund File a Claim website, and enter your information, including a claim number if you've received one, or your Epic Account ID. To find your Epic Account ID, you can follow the steps on the Epic Games website, which tells you how to find your Epic Account ID on the web, in-game in Fortnite, Fall Guys, or Rocket League, or in the Epic Games launcher files. You must complete this claim by July 9, 2025, otherwise you risk missing out on a refund.
