On our last blog update, we began a conversation about Travel Medical insurance and the importance of it. For Part 1 of this 2 part series, please refer to the blog post PRIOR to this one. (Mark – if you can direct link here – that would be good!) Here is more specific information about what you can expect to receive in the purchase of your travel medical insurance.

What does it cover?

The following coverage is typically found in a Travel Medical insurance plan.

• Reimbursement for unexpected medical costs due to emergency medical care.
• Reimbursement for unexpected dental costs due to an accident.
• Advance payments to medical facilities and help get emergency medical transportation when you are injured.
• Coordination of and payment for emergency medical evacuation services, including medical care providers to attend to you until you reach an appropriate medical care facility.
• AD&D and travel accident benefits to help take care of you or your family if you are seriously injured or killed while traveling.
• Emergency travel assistance services to help you locate a local an appropriate medical facility to care for your medical needs and those of your family.

Examples of travelers that might buy it

Travelers like these should purchase travel medical insurance:

• US Citizens going abroad. A typical health insurance plan doesn’t extend outside the U.S. borders, so if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll want travel medical coverage for accidental illnesses and injuries that occur outside your health insurance coverage zone.
• Visitors to the US. When family members visit from abroad and stay a few days or even a year, they should have coverage for their stay.
• Business travelers working overseas. If your health insurance plan doesn’t extend outside the U.S. (and most don’t), you’ll need some medical and evacuation coverage if you’re working overseas.
• Expats and long-term travelers. Not only does your own health insurance (even Medicare) fail to cover you outside the U.S., if you are visiting multiple countries, you’ll want to ensure you have the same coverage no matter where you travel.
• Missionaries and foreign aid workers. Just because you are traveling to make a difference in someone else’s life doesn’t mean something bad can’t happen to you. Be sure you are protected in case you have a medical emergency or need to be evacuated to safety.

What are the types of Travel Medical plans?

Travel medical plans come in three types:

1. Single trip travel medical (the most commonly purchased) this is coverage for a single trip up to six months. It covers the length of the vacation and is paid for up front.
2. Multi-trip travel medical this coverage is for multiple trips and often purchased in 3, 6, and 12-month segments.
3. Long-term major medical this is continuous medical coverage for the long term traveler and typically paid on a monthly basis. These plans can often be renewed.

How much does Travel Medical Insurance cost?

Since travel medical insurance does not provide trip cancellation and other package-like benefits, the cost of the plan is often quite economical.

A typical single trip travel medical plan can range from $40-$80 for a relatively short overseas trip. In general, the premium amount for a travel medical plan is based on:

• The length of the trip
• The age of the traveler
• The medical and evacuation coverage limits

While some travel medical plans will cover a few package-like benefits, the typical travel medical plan does not cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss, travel delays and other benefits typically associated with package plans! Travel medical plans are meant for anyone traveling outside the continental United States seeking medical insurance protection outside their home coverage network.

Even though this is a simple policy to get and the pricing is more than fair based on benefits, my team can help you navigate through this and actually issue a policy for you by phone immediately. Let us know if we can help before your next trip outside the USA. Our best provider of this type of protection is IMG (International Medical Group). You can click here for our IMG website and get complete details including information about the Patriot Platinum policy that my wife and I purchased recently. Email us at info@BentonWhite.com or call us personally at 615.377.1212. A few pennies can save you a lot of financial hardship when you have International Medical Insurance. (Tweet this!)