As the summer vacation season approaches, thoughts turn to fun in the sun, getting on an airplane, and camping. However, do you know that one in five people suffer an injury or illness while on vacation? Food poisoning is the most common medical issue to occur on vacation (CDC.com), car or bike accidents are second, and skiing accidents are third. We all want our family vacations to go perfectly, but even with the best intentions, things can happen.
A big concern is how your health insurance applies when you travel. With all the changes in health insurance, you may need special trip medical insurance. If you are traveling abroad, your health insurance may not provide any coverage.
Why Consider Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance provides you with peace of mind for a wide range of situations, including medical evacuation. If your current health plan is not a multi-state plan, you would not have coverage for traveling to another state. Some plans allow you to get requests and referrals out-of-state, some plans have separate out-of-network cost-sharing amounts, and some do not cover any costs beyond emergency.
When Should I Buy Travel Medical Insurance?
The best time to buy it is before you leave for your vacation.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Remember, each policy may offer different terms and coverage. Here are examples:
1. Trip cancellation coverage reimburses you for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip before you depart.
2. Medical expenses while traveling abroad.
3. Medical expenses while on a cruise. For cruises, your health insurance from home may not cover you if you are traveling on a foreign-flagged ship.
4. Emergency evacuations.
5.24/7 phone assistance.
The US State Department periodically issues warnings about traveling to at-risk countries. If you are visiting one of these countries, your medical insurance will likely not be honored, unless you buy supplemental coverage
