Travel will always have uncertainties, and you should be prepared for whatever comes up. But one of the worst things to experience while traveling is a medical emergency. It’s very likely that your personal health insurance won’t cover much–if anything at all–of your foreign medical bills. And getting caught in China or Germany or South America with an emergency appendicitis–or worse–can be financially devastating. Even travel health insurance when you’re traveling within the United States can be a very good idea, as almost everywhere you go is going to be out-of-network for the insurance you have. And health insurance companies are not known for being forgiving or willing to work with you. An uncovered medical emergency can cost you thousands of dollars, or tens of thousands of dollars.
What Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover?
To be clear, there are two different types of travel insurance. There’s the kind of insurance that will cover your expenses in case of a trip interruption, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and more. What we’re talking about here is a medical travel insurance plan that provides medical coverage, should a health emergency arise.
Some of the plans that you find through travel insurance companies will have up to $500,0000 per person for medical expenses. This will include emergency medical and dental treatment, doctor and hospital bills, emergency transportation by ambulance or related vehicle. This also includes some amount of travel assistance, including working with you on rearranging your trips.
Is it Worth it Getting This Insurance For Europe and Other Places Abroad?
The truth is that you may have an outstanding health insurance plan in the United States. However, almost all U.S. health insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, are not recognized outside the country. Even in countries that have good national healthcare systems, a medical emergency for a foreign traveler could be financially devastating.
Europe is known for having better-than-average healthcare systems (though don’t count on them to be cheap). But the further you go away from healthcare hubs, the more likely you are to be spending more money. For example, while a hospital stay in Sweden might be surprisingly affordable, don’t expect the same level of subsidized care if you travel further in Europe. For example, you will not get the same care in countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia.
Is It Worth it Getting Health Travel Insurance For South America? Asia? Africa?
The answer is an emphatic “YES”. There are some places in each of these continents with top-notch medical care. Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have some of the best doctors and medical facilities. However that doesn’t mean they’re free. Although the further you get off the beaten path, for instance, on a safari to the Serengeti, or to an island in the South Pacific; standards of care can drop and costs can skyrocket.
Is It Worth It For Domestic Flights?
Yes, this type of insurance is even important if you’re not leaving the country. It may be easier to find a doctor who is in-network, but many times when people travel they stretch their expenses, spending the most they can afford and not leaving much of a buffer for emergencies. It’s wise to plan ahead and have the peace of mind, even on domestic trips, that you’ll get the care you need.
Is It Worth It Getting Travel Insurance For Flights?
While we believe in getting travel insurance that will cover things like lost baggage, rental cars, and interruption coverage, Healthedly provides the most important type of travel insurance: travel health insurance.
