Many globetrotters, vacationers, and business travelers venture abroad without adequate international health coverage. You might assume your domestic health insurance has you covered, but options are often limited. Government programs like Medicare typically don’t extend coverage internationally, and employer-sponsored plans often fall short, particularly when it comes to medical evacuation. Even if your employer plan offers some international coverage, it’s frequently on a reimbursement basis. This leaves travelers vulnerable to significant upfront costs for essential medical care in unfamiliar places.
Why is a Travel Health Plan Indispensable for International Trips?
Accessing healthcare internationally can be complicated. Many hospitals in foreign countries require a guarantee of payment before providing treatment or allowing discharge. This guarantee facilitates direct billing between the hospital and the insurance provider. Travel Health Plans, working with assistance providers, commonly offer these guarantees, which are rarely provided by other insurance types. Without a dedicated travel health plan, you could face substantial upfront payments, potentially tens of thousands of dollars, charged to your credit card – assuming the hospital accepts foreign cards and your credit limit is sufficient.
Furthermore, seeking medical care in a different location, whether for better treatment or to return home where your domestic insurance applies, can be challenging. Medical evacuations are often too complex to arrange independently. You need to find a suitable receiving medical facility and a reliable transportation provider. This is where a crucial benefit of most travel health plans comes in: medical assistance. It provides 24/7/365 access to professionals who can ensure you receive appropriate local treatment or arrange a medical evacuation with a reputable company if necessary. Assistance services also extend to other travel-related emergencies like legal issues or lost travel documents. While emergencies are infrequent, having a contingency plan is essential. Your travel health plan can be vital for covering the often staggering costs of medical evacuations, which can easily reach six figures.
Evaluating Your Existing Health Coverage for International Travel
If you have health insurance, especially in the U.S., your first step should be to contact your insurance provider and clarify the extent of your international coverage. Specifically, determine if your plan covers medical expenses incurred abroad, and if it includes medical evacuation benefits, and to what extent. Vague or unclear answers should be a red flag. Travel health plans are specifically designed to fill the gaps in your primary domestic health insurance when you travel. For those without existing health coverage, these plans serve as primary insurance while you are abroad. The most comprehensive travel health plans offer benefits beyond just emergencies. They cover significant expenses such as hospitalization and surgery, but also routine needs like doctor’s visits, ambulance services, and prescription medications.
Essential Coverage Types in a Travel Health Plan
Health and Accident Insurance: Often referred to as travel health insurance, these policies cover doctor and hospital bills, and sometimes include dental care and prescriptions. These plans are available for short trips (1 day to 6 months) and can supplement plans like Medicare or managed care when traveling internationally. For expatriates or individuals relocating abroad for extended periods (6 months or longer), international health insurance can be purchased as primary coverage. These comprehensive plans often include additional benefits like preventive care, alternative therapies, maternity benefits, and more.
Medical Evacuation Coverage: Medical evacuations can be incredibly expensive, potentially reaching $100,000 or more, especially from remote locations. Beyond just financial coverage, you need assistance with arranging the evacuation itself. Reputable travel health plans invariably include medical evacuation coverage and assistance services.
