Why Travel & Health Insurance is Absolutely Essential
Accessing quality healthcare in unfamiliar countries can be complicated. A significant concern is that many hospitals around the world may require a guarantee of payment before providing treatment or allowing discharge. This guarantee streamlines the billing process between the healthcare provider and the insurance company, enabling direct billing. Travel & health insurance providers, along with their assistance services, typically offer these guarantees, which are not usually provided by other insurance types. Without travel & health insurance, you could be required to pay tens of thousands of dollars upfront using your credit card. This assumes the hospital accepts foreign credit cards and that you have a sufficient credit limit to cover the expenses.
Furthermore, seeking appropriate medical care, whether it’s finding better facilities or arranging a return home for treatment covered by your domestic insurance, can be incredibly challenging. Medical evacuations are particularly complex to organize on your own. Beyond locating a suitable medical facility, you must ensure you’re working with a reputable and reliable transportation provider. This is where travel & health insurance becomes invaluable. Most comprehensive policies include a crucial medical assistance benefit, offering 24/7/365 support. This service acts as a vital lifeline, ensuring you receive appropriate local treatment or, if necessary, arranges a safe and efficient medical evacuation through a trusted company. Assistance services also extend to other travel-related emergencies, such as legal issues, lost travel documents, or credit card problems. While emergencies are not always expected, having a contingency plan is essential for every traveler. Your travel & health insurance plan can be a financial safeguard, especially when considering that medical evacuations can sometimes cost upwards of six figures.
Evaluating Your Current Health Coverage
If you have health insurance in your home country, particularly in the U.S., your first step should be to thoroughly investigate your existing coverage. Contact your insurance provider to determine the extent of your international benefits. Specifically, ask if your plan covers medical expenses incurred overseas and whether it includes medical evacuation services, and if so, the limits of that coverage. If obtaining clear and direct answers proves difficult, consider it a red flag. Travel & health insurance plans are specifically designed to complement your primary health insurance by filling in coverage gaps when you travel abroad. For those without domestic health coverage, these plans can serve as primary insurance while traveling. The most effective travel & health insurance policies offer benefits that go beyond just emergency care. They cover significant expenses like hospitalization and surgery, but also include coverage for routine doctor visits, ambulance services, and prescription medications.
Key Types of Travel & Health Insurance Coverage to Consider
When considering travel & health insurance, there are two main types of coverage to understand:
1. Travel Health/Accident Insurance: Often referred to simply as travel health insurance, these policies cover costs associated with doctor visits, hospital stays, and sometimes even dental care and prescription medications. These plans are available for short trips, ranging from a single day to six months, and are designed to supplement programs like Medicare or managed care plans that typically do not offer international coverage. For expatriates or individuals relocating abroad for longer periods (six months or more), comprehensive international health insurance plans are also available as primary coverage. These extensive plans offer a wide array of benefits, including preventive care, alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic care, and even maternity benefits.
2. Medical Evacuation Coverage: Medical evacuations can be incredibly expensive, potentially reaching $100,000 or more, especially from remote locations. Beyond just financial coverage, it’s critical to have access to assistance services that can expertly manage and arrange a medical evacuation when needed. Reputable travel & health insurance providers, like GeoBlue, include robust medical evacuation coverage in all their plans, providing both financial protection and essential logistical support.
Before you embark on your next international trip, taking the time to understand and secure appropriate travel & health insurance is a vital step. It’s not just about financial protection; it’s about ensuring peace of mind and access to necessary medical care, no matter where your travels take you.
