Many U.S. leisure travelers still lack strong international health insurance coverage when abroad. Without a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan, your options may be:
Government-sponsored programs (such as Medicare) which categorically do not cover care received in a foreign country or
Employer-sponsored health plans which are limited in their international travel medical insurance and very rarely cover medical evacuation. Under employer-sponsored health plans, even if a sudden onset of illness or injury is covered, the services are usually rendered on a pay-and-claim basis. This leaves travelers caught in unfortunate situations to absorb what could be prohibitively high costs up front, in order to receive vital medical care.
Why is Travel Health Insurance so critical for international travel?
Accessing healthcare in some parts of the world can be tricky. Some hospitals won't provide any treatment—or won't allow a patient to be discharged—until the hospital has received a guarantee of payment. This guarantee is essentially what allows direct billing between the healthcare provider and the insurance company. Such guarantees are commonly provided by the travel medical insurance provider (in conjunction with assistance providers) but rarely by other types of insurance Without a travel medical plan, you'll have to pay in advance, perhaps as much as tens of thousands of dollars, with your credit card. Of course, for this to work the hospital must accept foreign credit cards and you must have a sufficient credit limit.
In addition, traveling for medical attention—either to a place with higher quality medical care or to return home where your regular insurance is accepted—can be difficult. Medical evacuations are often too complicated to arrange yourself; in addition to finding a receiving facility, you also need to ensure you are working with a trusted transportation provider.
The solution? Most travel medical insurance includes a medical assistance benefit, which is critical. It gives you a vital lifeline in the form of 24/7/365 access to a company that will assure that you're getting appropriate treatment locally, or if necessary arrange an evacuation for you with a creditable evacuation company. The assistance company will also be available to help with other travel related problems such as legal troubles, lost passports or credit cards, etc. Emergencies are rare but everyone should have a contingency plan. Your travel health insurance plan can also come in handy when it comes to paying for a medical evacuation, which are at times accompanied by a six-figure price tag.
Assess Your Personal Health Plan
If you have health insurance in the U.S., the first step is to check with your insurance company to establish what kind of coverage you have. You should make sure your plan includes benefits for medical expenses incurred internationally, if medical evacuations are covered and the extent of that coverage.
If you have difficulty getting a straight answer, that alone should be a warning. Travel medical insurance policies are designed to pick up where your primary health plan leaves off. If you do not have health coverage, these plans act as primary insurance while abroad. The best designed plans offer more than emergency benefits. They cover big ticket items such hospitalization and surgeries but will also pick up the tab on physician office visits, ambulance services, prescription medications and more.
Main Types of Coverage to Consider
Health/accident insurance. Typically referred to as travel health insurance, these polices pay for doctor and hospital bills, and sometimes dental care and medications. These plans can be written for short trips (1 day - 6 months) and will supplement Medicare or a managed care plan.
Medical Evacuation is a critical service that plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and health of individuals who find themselves in emergency medical situations, particularly when they are in remote or hard-to-reach locations. The costs associated with such evacuations can be exorbitant, often reaching $100,000 or more, depending on various factors such as the distance to the nearest medical facility, the mode of transportation required, and the urgency of the medical condition. This financial burden can be overwhelming, especially for travelers who may not have anticipated the need for such services during their trip. In addition to securing coverage for the evacuation itself, it is equally important to have assistance in arranging the logistics of the evacuation. This can include coordinating with local medical facilities, arranging for ground transportation, and ensuring that the necessary medical personnel are available to accompany the patient during the transfer. The complexities involved in medical evacuations often require a high level of expertise and experience, which is why it is beneficial to have a provider that specializes in these services. All of GeoBlue’s products are designed to offer comprehensive coverage for medical evacuation, ensuring that policyholders have access to the necessary resources and support when faced with a medical emergency abroad. This coverage not only alleviates the financial strain associated with medical evacuations but also provides peace of mind, knowing that professional assistance is just a call away, ready to manage the situation efficiently and effectively. With GeoBlue, you can travel with confidence, knowing that your health and safety are prioritized through their extensive medical evacuation services.
Bad things can happen during even the best-planned trip, however. That's why international travel insurance is an absolute must for spring break trips.
Contact AJM Associates, Inc. to learn more about Group Package Discounts for your High School's Spring Break planning or your Individual Leisure Adventure overseas.
How Much Does It Cost?
The most popular and all-inclusive plan that includes pre-existing conditions, offering $1,000,000 in medical coverage with no deductible, is available for your spring breakers aged 16-18 at a rate of $1.60 per day each, totaling $12.80 for the entire trip.
*cost is based on travelers home zip code, age, and duration of trip.
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