Coverage can include ambulance trips, ER visits, hospital room and board, X-rays, lab tests, and doctor and urgent care visits. For a complete list of the medical benefits, ask your insurance broker or check the policy wording before purchasing the policy.
While your private Health insurance plan may offer some coverage while traveling abroad, it may also be a hassle to use. Travel Medical insurance is designed specifically for international travel and will respond better to emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and other medical emergencies. If in doubt, review your policy wording or speak with your insurance broker ahead of your trip.
If you’re traveling internationally, you certainly do need travel medical insurance. Just on our staff alone, our team has experienced quite a few injuries and illnesses while traveling throughout the years. Luckily, they all had Travel Medical insurance to cover hospital stays, treatment, prescription drugs, and follow-up care when they got home.
These plans are designed for international travel and respond better than the travel benefits provided through your credit card or private Health insurance. In many cases, those plans require you to pay upfront and submit a claim for reimbursement, which can be challenging if your medical treatment is expensive. In certain parts of the world, hospitals are known for only allowing you to leave once your bill is settled. While Travel Medical insurance companies also have pay and claim provisions, they can often set up direct billing in instances like this.
That really depends on where you’re traveling. For example, if you’re traveling to the US, you should purchase at least $1M in coverage because of the high cost of healthcare. Before you purchase a plan, double-check country entry requirements, as specific amounts and benefits may be required for entry.