If you open your passport to page two, you will see a warning that says that anyone who is considering foreign travel should find out what travel medical health insurance coverage, they will require while they are outside the United States. For any US citizen going abroad, Medicare does not cover the medical care costs outside the US and US territories, except in rare cases in Canada and Mexico.
In fact, it might surprise you to learn that many international travelers travel without appropriate and adequate insurance protection. US Government sponsored health insurance programs, like Medicare, are highly unlikely to cover any emergency medical care that you may have to receive in a foreign country.
Even employer sponsored plans usually have limited overseas coverage, for emergency care only, provided you can prove the emergency. Whether you are traveling on business or for pleasure, you probably have gaps in your travel medical coverage that you are not even aware of.
Always remember that adequate travel medical insurance is critical for any international travel. Getting good healthcare may be a tricky business in itself in some parts of the world.
Some hospitals, the world over do not provide treatment or allow a discharge until they receive a guarantee of payment. In most cases, such a guarantee can most easily be provided by your travel medical insurer.
So, if you don’t have adequate cover, you may have to pay in thousands of dollars advance, with your credit card, provided the hospital accepts a foreign credit card, which many don’t.
In addition, in that pinch situation, your card must also have a large enough credit limit to cover the estimated cost of medical care.
Also, getting sudden medical evacuation, to return to the US, where the healthcare is of a known level and your regular insurance is good enough, can be even trickier.
Local authorities usually have tie-ups with certain evacuation companies, which may not recognize either your credit card or your domestic insurance.
Most of the travel medical insurance plans, however, include medical assistance benefit giving you 24/7 access to a creditable evacuation company or will actually arrange for an evacuation through their own medical personnel.
If you have medical insurance cover in the US, assess the plan that you have. Check with your insurance provider and determine exactly what kind of coverage you have, under the existing policy.
If you feel that the provided cover is not enough, have your travel medical insurance cover increased before you ever leave home. If you don’t already have insurance, you know how difficult things can sometimes get. Think about how much worse it can be in a foreign and unfamiliar country.
There are three major types of travel medical insurance coverage to be considered before you leave. Most reputed travel insurance products will offer either all three of these, or, at least two of them:
- Supplemental medical and accident insurance pays for the doctor and the hospital bills. May sometimes include dental care as well as medications. Does not cover preventive care, including annual physicals.
- Medical Evacuation plans take care of expensive evacuations which can cost as much as $50,000. In addition to the insurance cover, they should provide assistance in arranging the evacuation.
- Trip cancellation or interruption plans cover you financially in case you suddenly need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a medical reason. If you can’t take the vacation because of a personal or family illness, the insurance will reimburse you for the non-refundable parts of the trip.
Find and purchase a comprehensive, secure and worldwide travel medical insurance plan. Don’t leave home without it.
By: Will Moore
Posts Tagged ‘Medical Evacuation’
Learn Travel Tips That Will Keep You Safe
November 1st, 2009
While traveling can be interesting, happy and even necessary at times, one should take care that the experience should not be a problematic one. For this travelers should follow some basic guidelines, which would help them in a long way to ensure their own safety as well as that of their family and luggage.
Ensure that your insurance coverage caters to any kind of loss or accidents overseas. Your health insurance may reimburse you for medical care while abroad, but most health insurances do not ensure medical evacuation in case of an emergency from a remote area.
You could purchase a policy designed for travelers, catering to short-term health and emergency assistance, and especially medical evacuation in the event of an accident.
It is essential to register your travel with the State Department so that you may be contacted if necessary in case of a family emergency at home or because of a problem in the place you might be currently situated in.
Keep a note of the credit limit of your credit cards while traveling, this way you can avoid over charging and cross limits during travel. There have been times when people have been arrested for unknowingly exceeding their credit card limit.
Always avoid carrying too much of cash, countersign travelers checks in front of the person who will en-cash it. Restrain from showing your money to unknown people. Be sure to take back your credit card the transaction is complete.
Avoid black marketers for money exchange and deal with authorized agents only. In case of a loss or theft immediately report the matter to the authorities.
Always be very cautious while traveling. Use your instinct and common sense while traveling, beware of local goons or pick pockets. Avoid politically tensed areas, or unsafe roads.
Keep with you a list of emergency phone numbers that you might need apart from the closest embassy or consulate numbers.
Keeping yourself safe in the hotel is as important as on the roads.
Check into a hotel only after you have prior information about it. Avoid meeting with visitors in your room. Keep your valuables in the hotel safe instead of the room. In case of international travel it is always advisable to travel with a group or on a travel cruise.
If you are traveling by road, rent a car, which is easily available and used more by the locals. Keep your car doors locked when you are not in. Avoid flashy cars, and do not compromise on the quality of the vehicle, since it is necessary for your comfort and safety to have a good vehicle.
Always remember that while traveling that your safety is primarily your own look out. You should always be careful while driving and maintain road rules applicable internationally.
Drunken driving could be dangerous besides landing you in trouble.
All in all in order to make your trip a healthy and happy experience it is important that you are aware of the complications that might occur.
A very important travel safety tip is to not look like a tourist. Do your research on what people of the country or state are wearing. I would not suggest purchasing an entirely new wardrobe but not sticking out like a “sore thumb” may be in your best interest. The least amount of jewelry is best. If you have to wear jewelry try least expensive pieces. Besides most people travel to enjoy their destination not to have their destination enjoy their dress ensemble.
By: Will Moore
Travel Health Insurance
October 28th, 2009
Travel health insurance is particularly designed to protect you and family from unexpected medical adversities and much more in a foreign land. An appropriate travel health insurance policy also covers evacuation expenses incidental to a medical emergency or flying back for treatment.
Cover You can custom build a cover as will be suitable to you. You can combine monthly or daily periods, whichever is convenient for your budget. However, covers are available from 10 days upto 2 years. Coverage end on following points- whichever occurs earlier:
Your return to your Home Country The date shown on the ID Card, for which plan cost has been paid The date you are no longer eligible under this plan
In addition, you will also want assistance in case of robbery or lost cash and arranging an evacuation
Plans You have your plate full in planning your trip. But you can’t ignore selecting a plan that makes available the right coverage. Each visa has certain requirements for most eligible travel health insurance plans which can be a starting point to build over. Available plans range from basic to comprehensive policies accommodating trips of up to 35 days. Plans are packaged for individuals, groups, businesses and by definition include coverages such as terrorism, hazardous sport, emergency medical evacuation and more. Unfortunately, employer sponsored plans often don’t go beyond emergency care and often they are burdened with the responsibility of proving it’s an emergency. Organized groups can choose from our wide range of group plans. Beyond this, there are certain plans that are far more comprehensive that carry higher levels of coverage.
Travel health insurance premiums are predetermined in agreement with regulations, so it is more or less the same across the spectrum of companies and there is no point in wasting your time searching around in the last minute. Clarify the technical terms, jargons and conditions that concern eligibility benefits, limitations and exclusions.
Expenses It is obvious that heath care expenses in an abroad country can be significantly higher and not to mention the cost medical transportation and countless travelers pay the price because their domestic health care plan provides hardly any coverage for medical expenses outside their country. But with an appropriate travel health insurance plan under your belt, you hardly need to worry about unexpected expenses such as hospital treatment, medical expenses, and sudden illness. If anything, it is your deductible, coinsurance amounts and non-eligible expenses that you need to pay up. But keep in mind that charges which exceed ‘reasonable and customary charges’ or investigational surgeries & treatments are out of the scope of most travel health insurance plans.
By: Alevoor Rajagopal
