Insurance: Don’t leave home without it

18 Jul 2015  2041 | World Travel News

WARWICK, US  A surprising number of Americans are unclear whether their health insurance works outside the country, according to a survey from InsureMyTrip.
Over 25% polled were not sure whether their domestic health insurance plan would cover doctor or hospital visits while traveling overseas. It is probably a global issue; travellers often believe their domestic insurance is enough.
It was a close call as 39% believed their domestic health insurance would provide cover, while 34% believed the opposite. Around 26% were not sure.
The bottom line advice was top up your insurance cover when travelling overseas .
inside no 6The survey showed there were conflicting opinions on whether US Medicare would cover sickness during an overseas trip.
It does not cover medical care offshore, but there are supplemental plans such as Medicare Advantage and Medigap that can provide limited additional cover.
One of the most expensive items is emergency medical evacuation and according to the US State Department, very few domestic health insurance companies will pay for it, which can easily cost up to USD100,000, or even more, depending on the condition and location of patient.
The advice is applicable to travellers, worldwide. It pays to check travel insurance options before leaving home especially if trips are to areas where health care is limited, or will require evacuation to an international hospital in a neighbouring country. This applies to travel in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The advice is to evacuate to an internationally recognised hospital in Bangkok if the option is possible.
It is important for travellers to know about any limitations of domestic health insurance policies, while out of the country. In most cases, there are gaps in cover. Some gaps are significant. Travel insurance is recommended because it can act as supplemental or primary coverage.
Most travel insurance providers offer two different types of insurance plans:
Comprehensive travel insurance that offers the most protection for travellers, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical evacuation, emergency medical coverage, 24/7 emergency assistance, and baggage protection.
For a USD5,000 two-week overseas vacation a comprehensive travel insurance plan could cost a couple in their 50s around USD200. This includes a USD50,000 medical limit, USD250,000 for medical evacuation in addition to trip cancellation coverage.
Travel medical insurance provides emergency medical coverage, 24/7 emergency assistance, and emergency medical evacuation coverage. Trip cancellation is t not included.
inside no 6.1On this plan a typical cost for a couple in their 50s is around USD80. This includes a USD50,000 medical limit with a USD250 deductible and USD500,000 medical evacuation.
Both comprehensive and travel medical insurance plans are a valued supplement while traveling overseas, offsetting possible coverage gaps evident in some domestic health insurance plans including:
Emergency medical care: when a traveller requires a doctor or hospital visit when traveling abroad.
Emergency evacuation: when a traveller requires transportation to another medical facility or back home for further care.
24/7 emergency assistance: when a traveller needs help with a medical-or-safety-related issue, needs to find a doctor or hospital, or requires translation services.
Some travel insurance policies also cover pre-existing medical conditions. To learn more, InsureMyTrip.
Travellers can also reduce health risks by learning about destination-specific medical concerns, including required vaccinations.
InsureMyTrip’s powerful comparison engine and thousands of reviews enable travelers to quote and buy the right travel insurance plan.

sourced:ttrweekly.com 

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