Travel Health Insurance
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 The reasons to travel abroad are many and varied – that’s why health insurance products for the traveler are many. One may travel for pleasure or business. One may travel with family or a group. There are also people who spent an extended period of time overseas on businesses or travel back and forth overseas. Traveling abroad can be an exciting and rewarding experience. But what would happen if you or one of your family members became ill or injured while away from home? While most travelers assume they will be covered by their standard medical plan, that may not be the case. A traditional plan that the insured has through his employer or has purchased individually may offer adequate coverage at home, but many of these plans are not designed for international travel. As an international traveler, you need to make sure that your coverage has the appropriate insurance protection. If you are on a government sponsored health programs such as Medicare, you will find that these plans almost never cover care received in a foreign country. A privately purchased individual plan or group employer plan will often limit overseas coverage to emergency care only (and the burden will be on you to prove it's an emergency). Very important is that emergency medical evacuation is almost never covered. Even if you're traveling on business, you may have significant gaps in your coverage. |
 In other parts of the world obtaining healthcare can be very different than what you are accustomed to. Some hospitals will not provide treatment until the hospital has received a guarantee of payment. These guarantees are commonly provided by travel insurers, but rarely by other insurers or managed care plans. The result of these policies is that you will have to pay in advance with your credit card, and you will have to have a sufficient credit limit to cover the expenses. If you are of the opinion that you would prefer to return home for treatment, remember that medical evacuations are somewhat difficult to arrange and very expensive. Make sure that your travel insurance policy includes a medical assistance benefit that gives you around the clock access to a company that will arrange an evacuation for you and/or can help assure that you're getting appropriate treatment locally. While these travel emergencies are rare, the prepared traveler should always have a contingency plan. The best way to set your travel insurance plans is contact his or her current health insurance company. You want to know what they will cover and what any contingencies are. What are you currently paying for? Is there some gap that you need to fill in your coverage? You need a plan for the traveler and traveler’s family coverage without boundaries including international benefits and 24 hour availability. If you are looking for group coverage for a traveling group, plans are also available. |
 There are many needs for international medical insurance products for a wide variety of travelers including vacationers, individuals working or living abroad for short or extended periods, people traveling frequently between countries, and individuals who maintain multiple countries of residence. A range of major medical, life, dental and disability products are available that can be tailored to meet the customer’s needs. Some plans address the insurance needs of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who need temporary medical insurance while traveling for business or pleasure anywhere outside of their home country. These plans offer high limits of medical coverage. Some plans provide coverage for U.S. citizens traveling outside the U.S. while other plans are specifically designed to provide coverage for non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country. In addition to expected medical benefits, the plans generally include coverage for medical evacuation, repatriation, and choice of deductibles and plan maximums. Plans can be for a few days for the vacationer and short term business traveler or for long-term needs with an annually renewable, U.S.-style major medical insurance plan designed for U.S citizens living abroad or foreign nationals throughout the world is available. The geographic areas of coverage can be for either worldwide or worldwide excluding the U.S. and Canada. As with any insurance coverage, benefits vary depending on the level of benefits desired. For the budget conscience consumer, scheduled coverage is available. A plan with more comprehensive coverage will help reduce out-of- pocket expenses. On the upper end of benefits and costs would be a plan that includes superior benefits and coverage for medical, dental, vision. Rather than having to purchase a new policy for the executive who takes multiple trips throughout the year, some plans are specifically designed to provide coverage up to 30 days in length for each trip. Just purchase a single annual plan at an affordable premium. Is there a need to cover employees who reside abroad? The answer may be international medical group coverage. This program is for employers with employees who are U.S. or Canadian citizens who reside abroad, or foreign nationals around the world. With this type of plan employers can carve out their international employees and still provide U.S.-style benefits and worldwide coverage. A variety of benefits are available including medical, dental and life insurance. Another type of group travel health insurance would be for groups of five or more U.S. citizens and/or foreign nationals who need temporary medical insurance while traveling for business or pleasure anywhere outside their home country. Finally, student health insurance plans designed for individuals or groups of two or more students or scholars participating in a sponsored study abroad program, and desire an annually renewable comprehensive medical plan |