Guide to Travel Medical Insurance for U.S. Citizens Abroad

It is the trip of a lifetime of yours. The tickets are booked. Your bags are nearly packed. You can already experience the gelato in Rome or the sun in Thailand. But wait. Have you ever thought of what would happen in case you get ill or hurt?

It must have a safety net in your adventure and net guide to travel medical insurance of the U.S. citizens overseas. It is an assurance that a medical emergency will not become a financial disaster. We are going to investigate all that you should know.

So we shall discuss why your U.S. plan is unlikely to succeed internationally. We shall explain the key coverages that you need. You will also know how to choose the ideal policy.

This is where you will find your final resort to safe and worry free travels. We have gone to an extent of providing a travel medical insurance guide to get some more insight.

Why Your Your Domestic Health Insurance Fail You in Foreign Land

Through the health insurance, many U.S citizens think that it accompanies them wherever they go. This is a very tragic and expensive error. There is a limit to your domestic policy. Your insurance tends to wipe out the minute you cross them. Let’s explore why.

The Hard Truth of the U.S. Health Plans

The majority of American health insurance covers are limited or do not cover overseas. This incorporates PPOs, HMOs as well as government plans. They are intended to fit in a network of hospitals and doctors in the U.S.A.

Think about your HMO plan. It makes you work on a particular network. Paris does not have that network. Your PPO may provide out of network coverage to some extent. Nevertheless, it is usually accompanied by enormous deductibles and complicated forms.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when that ‘cure’ is in a foreign country and costs a fortune.”

Worse still, most of the foreign hospitals will not even bill your U.S. insurer. They will require upfront payments. You will even have to pay thousands of dollars of your own money. Then you would struggle to get back some money.

The Medicare and Medicaid: A Firm No in the Overseas Countries

What about Medicare? It is a question to which so many retirees want to know. It is easy to answer, the reason is that health care out of the United States is not covered by Medicare. These are a few extremely exceptional cases, but these little cases cannot be depended upon.

Medi-care also does not allow international travel. The U.S. taxpayers finance care in the country through these programs. Out of the US you are on your own. This renders international healthcare necessary.

The Staggering Foreign Medical Care Cost.

You could believe that there are cheaper health facilities elsewhere. Although this may be true in instances of minor problems, the same does not apply to cases of emergencies. A terrible accident or disease can financially ruin any place on the planet.

Take the example of a broken leg in Switzerland as a result of skiing accident. This could easily cost over $20,000. A hospital bill of an acute condition in Japan may go into the tens of thousands. They are not the figures you wish to encounter in the absence of international health insurance.

To make the matters worse, you ought to know that the global inflation is pushing the insurance premium prices of all things including emergency medical services in foreign countries.

We shall consider a mere comparison.

Table: U.S. Health Plan vs. Travel Medical Insurance Abroad.

These gaps are evident in this table. Specialized travel health insurance is an insurance designed by the U.S. citizens themselves when they travel internationally to face such situations.

Decoding Your Travel Medical Insurance Policy

Now that you have the reasons to have it, we shall see what a good policy entails. It is not a mere case of paying the doctor his bill. A healthy plan provides a collection of insurances. Their main advantage is to understand.

Fundamental Insurance You Can Not Go Without

There are some features that you cannot compromise when purchasing a plan. These are the foundations of a good travel medical insurance cover. Be sure that any plan which you contemplate possesses them.

Dental and Emergency Medical Costs.

This is where the policy lies. It pays the expenses in case you fall ill or accidentally get injured. This covers hospital charges, surgical, and x-rays charges of the doctor. It also includes emergency treatment on dental care due to an injury. Find a policy that offers high coverage limit. We recommend minimum of 100,000 though higher is preferable.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

This can be the one most crucial advantage. When you are living in a remote locality and the medical facilities are lacking, then this coverage will save your life. It is good money to take you to the closest hospital where you are guaranteed to be treated.

It can even fly you back to the U.S. in the worst case, medical evacuations can cost more than 100 000. In the event that you do not have this coverage, you will be left hanging and you will be indebted. It is a must-have.

Repatriation of Remains

It is a sad yet obligatory subject. In case a traveler dies, this benefit will assist by covering the cost of the traveler to be returned home with the remains. This is a complicated process and costly. It is a sympathetic perquisite that assists a bereaved family.

The Numbers of Limits, Deductibles, Coinsurance.

There is a language of insurance policies. Let’s break it down.

Policy Maximum: It is the maximum amount of payment that the insurer is going to make. In the case of travel medical insurance of American citizens overseas, it is better the higher. A maximum of one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand is very protective.

Deductible: It is the amount paid before insurance comes in. A deductible is an amount you pay the first $ 250 of a covered expense. Increased deductibles tend to imply reduced premiums.

Coinsurance: Once you have paid your deductible you can divide the amount with the insurer. An 80/20 coinsurance implies that you would pay 20% and the insurer would pay 80% that has a limit.

Sample Policy Comparison: grid Feature.

InsureHook Plans

Basic Plan

$50,000

• Deductible: $500
• Medical Evacuation: $100,000
• Pre-existing: Not Covered
• Adventure Sports: Excluded

Standard Plan

$250,000

Best Value

• Deductible: $250
• Medical Evacuation: $500,000
• Pre-existing: Covered (Acute Onset)
• Adventure Sports: Limited Coverage

Premium Plan

$1,000,000

• Deductible: $0
• Medical Evacuation: $1,000,000
• Pre-existing: Covered (Acute Onset)
• Adventure Sports: Optional Add-on

This is an overview of the way various plans could be put together. This will assist you to picture your alternatives.

Watch Out for Common Policy Exclusions

Any policy will always have uncovered things. These are called exclusions. Before purchasing a policy, it is important to have a clear understanding of what exclusion means in a policy. There is no option of not reading the fine print.

Common exclusions include:

Pre-existing Conditions: A number of basic plans will not cover pre-existing problems. Nevertheless, several of them today take care of acute onset of a pre-existing condition. This is a burst of suddenness and abruptness.

Risky Behaviors: Do you have any plans to sky dive or backcountry ski? Check your policy. A lot of them do not include adventure sporting activities. This may mean purchasing an additional rider.

Routine Care: Travel medical insurance is emergency-related. It does not include check-ups, regular check-ups or preventive treatment.

Mental Health: Mental health crisis can be subject to coverage. Confirm the details, in case it is important to you.

How to Select the best plan to your trip.

Not all trips are the same. Not every tourist is like that. Travel medical insurance must be designed to suit you and your travel. It is possible to locate the ideal fit herein.

Step 1: Determine Your own needs.

It is best to begin by posing a couple of questions. Your decision will be informed by the answers.

Your Trip Profile: Destination and Length of Stay.

Where are you going? A visit to Canada will not have the same risk profile as a visit to Nepal. Medical prices are out of this world. The cost of research in your destination. One of the best sources of country specific information is the U.S. department of state site.

How long will you be gone? A single-trip plan is ideal in the case of a one-week vacation. In case you are a regular traveler, a multi-trip plan yearly may be more economical.

Your Personal Profile: Health and Age.

Age is a key determinant of price. The higher the age, the higher the premiums. Be honest about your health. In case of chronic conditions, seek a plan that is well covered in case of the acute onset of the pre-existing conditions. It is important to consider your age when insuring just like when you are thinking of maxing out life insurance in your 30s compared to 50s.

Your Profile of Activities: Lounger or Daredevil?

What will you be doing? Spending time on a beach is non strenuous. Scuba diving, mountain climbing or just riding a scooter in a crowded city puts your life at risk. Ensure that you are covered in what you are doing. Don’t assume they are. There is a tendency that you will require a special plan or rider.

Step 2: Compare Plan Types

There are usually two key options when it comes to traveling medical insurance of U.S citizens abroad.

Table: One Trip vs. Multi-Trip Annual Plans.

Step 3: Where and How to Buy

There are various ways of buying a policy.

Comparison Websites: Comparison websites, such as Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, are good. Their website allows you to compare the plans of different companies. This is usually the most convenient way of getting the most out of the money.

Direct to Insurers: You can purchase directly with such companies as Allianz, World Nomads, or GeoBlue. It is a good alternative when you are aware of the company that you would like.

Insurance Brokers: An experienced broker will assist you in handling the complicated needs and access a specialized plan.

At the time of purchase, you have to be ready to specify your dates of travel, where to go and the age of every traveler. Do not lie on your application. Incidents of concealing a medical condition may nullify your policy at the time you need it the most. This is also an opportune moment to learn some of the main insurance terminologies, such as discovery of the meaning of terms such as indemnity in insurance, in order to be a better buyer.

Even the finest plans of travel may go wrong. The plan is the plan of when the plans go wrong.

Applications in the Real World and Practice.

We shall pass out of theory into practice. What is the actual picture of using your insurance? and what before you have even got home?

What Do You Do When You Need Help?

It’s 2 a.m. in a foreign city. You are sick or hurt. What do you do?

Call Your Insurer: The policy will contain a 24/7 emergency help line. This is your lifeline. Call it immediately. Experts are on board to assist with this number.

Get a Referral: The assistance company will explain to you what local doctor or hospital to visit. They usually have networks of providers whom they trust.

Arrange Payment: In most instances, direct payment to the hospital may be organized by the insurance firm. This will imply that you do not need to spend on your own. In minor cases, such as a doctor visit, it is possible to pay and make a claim.

Store All Documents: Store all receipts, bills and medical report. They will be required in order to make your claim. Prepare a back up by taking pictures through your phone.

Scenario: A Fall in Florence

In Italy, you fall on a stone pavement and believe that your wrist is broken. You call your insurer’s 24/7 line. They refer you to a local hospital. A fracture is confirmed and a cast is placed on it by the clinic. The clinic makes payment with the insurer. You are still out of luck, but you are not losing money.

Situation: Food Poisoning in Peru.

You take a nice meal and immediately get sick. You are dehydrated and weak. Your tour guide assists you in calling your insurance company. They provide a recommendation of a hospital and approve your admission of IV fluids. They visit you and the hospital personnel until you are sent home and would be safe enough to continue with your journeys.

Future of Travel Protection.

The insurance business is evolving. Travel insurance is becoming wiser and more reactive due to new technology. Insurtech startups are making exciting progress in America that should be followed.

Just think of an application that would alert you to a disease outbreak in your area based on the GPS of your phone. Or an automatic claim payment policy in the case of a flight delay that it identifies.

Other new schemes are exploiting the ideas behind the telematics insurance gadgets to provide a more individualized price and services. The future is related and dynamic.

The Other Insurance That is worth Thinking when You are Away.

It is your health first, but what about your stuff? Your vacation can have an influence on the other aspects of your economic life. Before you take a long journey it is prudent to refresh up all your policies.

Protecting Your Home and Possessions

In case of a long-term travel, call your home insurance company. There are policies that contain a provision regarding your home being empty. You might have to be particularly endorsed. New changes such as the Florida home insurance rate caps demonstrate how the regional regulations can impact on your core policies hence being up to date matters.

And in case your journey is a component of a more extensive relocation, then you will also need to think of how to insure your belongings when moving. The liability of standard movers is very minimal.

Auto Insurance Management

What about your car? In case you will be away several months, then you may be able to cut on the coverage. You may put on hold collision coverage and retain full theft or damage coverage. There are even people who do not know when to renew their auto insurance to a better rate before they travel.

Travel Insurance and State Mandates.

Are you guided by state policies in your travel policy? In most cases, no. Travel medical insurance is a product of its kind that has various regulations compared to your regular health plan. Although these may not be applicable to travel insurance bought to cover international travels, even though you may reside in a state that has certain requirements, such as the updates to the health insurance requirement in Ohio. Your policy is in relation to the risks of travelling, and not the healthcare laws of your home state.

Chart: Pre-Travel Insurance Checklist.

An example of a flow chart to be able to visualize the process of selecting your insurance.

To learn more about the peculiarities of travelling and travelling insurance, you might also refer to such sources as the World Health Organization (WHO) where you may receive health-related travel warnings.

Conclusion: Your Ticket to Peace of Mind

Visiting other countries is considered one of the best pleasures in life. It opens your eyes and the memories of a lifetime. The world is changeable though. Travel medical insurance on U.S citizens all over the world is not luxurious; it is an essential component of responsible traveling.

It protects your health. It protects your savings. Above all it brings peace of mind. You can get lost in your adventure, and you are aware that you have a strong safety net. The unexpected is taken care of.

In order to complete your plans, therefore, selecting the appropriate travel medical policy should be your number one priority. Travel smart, travel safe and have a good time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)