By Claire Brinsden Jordan
Did you know that some U.S. based health insurers and Medicare do not cover medical treatment abroad? If you plan on travelling out of the country this summer, you should consider getting travel medical insurance. In the event of an unexpected injury or illness, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you are covered financially while getting immediate care. Stand-alone travel medical insurance reimburses you for emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains when you travel abroad. Sounds helpful, you say, but do I REALLY need it?
A few years ago, a family member of mine experienced a life-threatening illness while visiting a Caribbean Island. He required a $10K intravenous immunoglobulin treatment while there that likely saved his life, and then a $50K private medical evacuation flight and ambulance transfer to a Tampa Bay hospital. These charges required immediate payment, not knowing if he would be reimbursed by his private U.S. health insurer. Considering a cruise? Cruise ships provide medical care on board, but bill you, not your U.S. health insurance provider, and they don’t cover medical evacuations from the ship. I have been on at least two cruises where a passenger was evacuated via helicopter for medical reasons. If you want to be prepared for emergencies like these, then yes, you should really consider it!
Most policies are designed for short-term travel, and only cover emergency medical needs, not routine and preventative care. However, there are long-term travel health insurance policies that do include comprehensive medical care, meant for expats or those travelling outside the U.S. for more than a year. Short-term travel policies may also include coverage for family members accompanying you, or in the event of emergency, for a family member’s travel to care for you abroad. Some policies exclude travel to risky “Level 4: Do Not Travel” countries like Russia or North Korea, as advised by the U.S. Department of State. It is very important to read the entire policy so that you know exactly what is covered and what is not before you purchase it.
There are policies for single-trip coverage, as well as multi-trip coverage if you plan to travel to different locales within a set period. An important note, however, is that multi-trip coverage requires you to have U.S. medical insurance so that you are covered while you are home between trips. Single-trip coverage does not have this requirement and is purchased for specific dates of travel. Some credit cards with an annual fee offer limited travel medical insurance as a bonus perk. However, credit card emergency medical coverage maximums are generally very low – around $2500 – and may not include coverage for medical evacuation. Single-trip coverage on a travel medical insurance policy offers maximums ranging from $50K to $2 million, and even include some emergency dental coverage. It just depends on your risk tolerance. You can search for and compare travel medical insurance policies on www.Squaremouth.com and www.InsureMyTrip.com.
Some travel medical insurance plans are part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan, which also includes reimbursement for trip interruption, delay or cancellation, lost luggage, and rental car coverage. If you already have coverage for these things through a premium travel credit card, then a stand-alone travel medical insurance plan is a better option. The cost of a policy depends on several factors, including your age (the higher your age, the higher the rate), the state in which you live, the amount of coverage you want, and your travel destination. Generally with these policies, if you encounter a medical emergency, you pay for the care with your credit card and then submit a claim for reimbursement to the travel medical insurance provider. It is important, however, to contact your provider immediately following the emergency, before paying any bills or arranging a medical evacuation. The provider can assist with language barriers and may prefer to make medical evacuation arrangements for you.
As with any medical insurance policy, the travel policies come with exclusions, limits, and deductibles. So, READ THE FINE PRINT!
Although you will hopefully never need it, travel medical insurance is an important consideration when making plans to travel abroad. Some countries are now requiring that visitors show proof of medical insurance before entering. First, you should check to see if your U.S. health insurer covers you for out-of-network care abroad in the specific country you are visiting. If not, then search for a travel medical insurance plan that fits your risk tolerance and travel budget. Even if your U.S. health insurer does cover some international medical cost, you can still purchase a travel medical insurance plan as a supplemental or “secondary” policy to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Be sure to ask if the policy premium is refundable, and if the coverage dates can be changed in case you have to cancel or delay your trip. Remember, the key to enjoying your trip is peace of mind!
PREPARE TO IMMUNIZE
International travel can increase your chance of getting a disease that is rare or not currently found in the U.S. Before travelling to a foreign country, you should check the Centers for Disease Control’s website, cdc.gov, to see what vaccines or medicines you will need for that country. The site also details specific health risks you may encounter in each country. It is important to stay up to date on routine vaccinations, and you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider 4-6 weeks before travelling to go over required vaccines and address any health concerns. Remember that some vaccines involve multiple doses, so you need to allow plenty of time before your trip. The yellow fever vaccine, required for visits to some African and South American countries, can only be administered at approved sites, so the CDC website includes a list of clinics near you that provide these special vaccines. Medicine to prevent malaria must be taken before you travel, so it’s important to plan ahead. Always bring a copy of your official immunization record with you when you travel. The CDC’s Yellow Book provides comprehensive health information for international travel. Go to www.cdc.gov/yellow-book for more information. Safe travels this summer!