These days, there is insurance for absolutely everything. Your life, your car, your home, your health – you name it. The underlying theme here is: if there is a chance you can lose it, make sure it is protected. Now if you think about it, going on a trip to a foreign country entails a number of health risks – eating unknown foods, traveling unknown paths, you can never be sure of what you might encounter. So why is it that more people don’t purchase travel medical insurance?
Travel medical insurance is its own category – separate from Trip Insurance. Trip travel insurance protects your financial investments in a trip. This may include situations like lost baggage, trip cancellations/delays, and other unforeseen losses. Travel medical insurance protects your health and wellness throughout the trip, and can cover a range of services depending on the type of insurance plan selected. It can include coverage for medical emergency costs, emergency evacuation, or treatment for any new illness contracted during your travels. Think of it as health insurance when you travel overseas, as your domestic insurance does not cover medical costs when you receive medical care outside of your home country.
Not Many People Know About Travel Medical Insurance
The matter of the fact is that not many people know about travel medical insurance. It’s rather common to think that if a situation arises in a foreign country, you will be treated at a medical facility similar to when you are at home. The costs might slip your mind, but you assume they won’t be too much. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and a sure-shot way to slap a hefty medical bill on top of all the traveling costs you are accruing. Insurance will cover for medical mishaps that may happen, and protect you by lowering your out-of-pocket expenses. The last thing you want to worry about while on vacation is more bills!
Domestic Health Insurance or Medicare Will Cover Overseas – Really?
Another common misconception about travel insurance is assuming your domestic health insurance or Medicare will cover you. This is not the case, as medical facilities in other countries do not have access to your insurance plans back home. A foreign healthcare facility has no ties to your personal medical insurance, and therefore cannot bill a hospital or clinic back home for a treatment that did not come from that facility.
Believe Nothing is Going to Happen to their Health
Many travelers feel that they take the precautions they need, have all the emergency supplies available, and that they will be protected with their own resources but in reality, thinking that nothing is going to happen to you leaves a whole lot of risk on the table. While traveling, you could drink contaminated water, you could find yourself in the middle of a natural disaster, even a small slip on a rock can turn into a medical emergency. It’s safe to say that anything could happen and leaving your safety in fate’s hands is never a viable solution.
Travel insurance might be expensive, but not investing in insurance and running into emergency situations where medical treatment is necessary will end up putting a greater hole in your wallet. While visiting a foreign country can be fun and exciting, it can also land you in unpredictable situations and not making sure that you are protected can be a big mistake. Get a quote and learn more about international travel medical insurance in order to find a plan that best fits your needs.
