Health Insurance for Overseas Travel

Why Buy Health Insurance for Overseas Travel?

1. Your Current Health Insurance Policy Typically Won't Cover You Overseas

While you may already have health insurance coverage, the typical policy is not comprehensive enough to cover any injuries or illnesses which you may have in a foreign country overseas. Before you leave on your trip, read through your policy and check with your insurance agent to verify what health coverage, if any, is available for you on your trip, and how comprehensive that coverage is.

2. Minimize the Financial Risk of Illness or Injury Abroad

Health insurance is not only designed to protect your physical health, but your financial health as well. In the event that you fall ill or are injured overseas, you would have to pay for the expenses of your medical care out-of-pocket, if you do not have adequate health coverage. If a medical emergency requires an air evacuation or extended hospitalization, your medical bill could run in the thousands. On the other hand, the cost of health insurance for overseas travel is a fraction of this amount, and well worth the financial protection it affords you and your family.

Choosing Medical Insurance for Overseas Travel

Evaluate Your Medical Needs

Before you shop for international health coverage, evaluate your individual health care needs. Examine different health plans, and be sure to read the fine print to understand exactly what coverage it provides. Pay particular attention to the coverage limits and deductibles offered as well as the exclusions that apply for pre-existing conditions and particular high-risk activities.

You may have to purchase portions of different health plans to ensure comprehensive coverage for your trip. While this may seem an extreme measure, the financial risk of unexpected illness or injury overseas mitigates it. Being under-insured can prove to be as risky as being un-insured.

When you fill out your application for an international health insurance policy, be sure declare all pre-existing conditions and/or prior injuries and illnesses. While some insurers will deny you coverage, you may, alternatively, just have to pay a higher premium to include coverage for these. Failing to disclose prior conditions may render your health policy null and void in the event that you file a claim and the insurer happens to discover these conditions.

3 Essential Features to Look for in Medical Insurance for Overseas Travel

There are three features that are essential to have on the health plan that you choose:

• Ensure that the policy offers toll-free, 24/7 telephone assistance – in English – that you can use in the event of an emergency.
• Choose a plan that will arrange for your care in a foreign country, especially if you do not speak the local language in that country.
• Select an insurer who makes direct, immediate payment to the health care provider, rather than reimbursement after the fact. Foreign health providers will typically require upfront cash payment from non-residents, which you will have to pay out of pocket and then seek reimbursement from your insurer.

Shop Before You Travel

If you are traveling overseas in the near future, securing health insurance for overseas travel is essential for your health and that of your bank account. Ideally, you should shop for and purchase your travel insurance before you leave on your trip. With so many different coverage options available to suit different the needs of just about every traveler, you can find one that will protect you and your family as you travel abroad.

If you book a vacation package through a travel agency you, are likely to be offered health insurance coverage as part of the package. If the health plan offered is not comprehensive enough for your needs, you should shop around for better coverage from an independent broker or agency.

The only thing that can ruin a wonderful vacation more than an unexpected illness or injury is lacking the financial resources to get proper treatment without breaking the bank.