Travel & Health Insurance Coverage: 5 Questions Answered

Whether you’re planning a leisure trip abroad, or are travelling for business, it is imperative that you understand the ins and outs of what your health insurance provider will actually provide you if tragedy should strike.

In most cases, health insurance providers do not provide any kind of coverage while you’re out of the country, or they provide only very little; furthermore, that very little might be almost non-existent once it filters through all of the stipulations and requirements.

You can learn more about actually organizing health insurance on the HBF website itself. Here you will be able to learn more about whats actually involved & make an educated decision.

To ensure you have the coverage that you need while you’re travelling, make certain you go over the following questions with your health insurance provider and take these answers into account for your trip planning:

1. Why is medical coverage abroad such an important concern for me to look into?

• If something were to happen to you, and you needed an emergency evacuation to the United States, you would pay upwards of $10,000 if not covered.
• If you rely on the Social Security Medicare Program for coverage, you will not be covered outside of the United States.
• Most health insurance providers do not extend their coverage outside of the U.S.
• Several countries require that you possess travel, or accident, insurance before you’re permitted to visit.
• In some cases, hospitals abroad will not provide any kind of service if you are not insured; you will be turned away.

2.  Will the U.S. Government provide any assistance if something happens to me?

• In cases of serious injury, or illness, a U.S. consular office can assist you with informing family back in the states, with locating medical services, or with transferring funds from accounts of family in the U.S. to you.
• Payment, however, will not be covered by a consular and is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

3.  Is there a list of physicians abroad that I should be aware of?

• The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists contains a detailed and authoritative list on physicians abroad and can be obtained at AMBS.org.
• Furthermore, all U.S. embassies and consulates keep updated lists of hospitals and physicians for their specific regions at http://usembassy.state.gov.

4.  Is there a notable difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?

• Yes there is!
• Usually, travel insurance only covers the financial investment you’re making into your travel plans (i.e. lost baggage, cancelled flights).
• You can learn more about travel insurance at the HBF website
• Medical needs while abroad are more specifically handled through the attainment of a temporary travel medical insurance policy.

 5.  When I travel, what forms of insurance information should I have on me at all times?

• In case of any emergency, you should always have your insurance policy identity card, as well as your claim form. Keep these on your person, at all times, so that they can be found by medical experts in the event that you are unconscious, or unable to get them to you.