Health Insurance Articles
Health Insurance Coverage When Traveling Overseas
2010-08-15
Safety is the number one concern for travelers, especially when going overseas. Most travelers in the United States know how to handle their security when it comes to travel insurance, money, weather and travel destinations. But what about your health and well-being while traveling? Overseas travel carries with it a special set of risks and necessary preparations. Health insurance coverage is one of these necessary preparations; the last thing any traveler wants is to be injured or ill abroad, with a massive bill waiting back home. Insurance plans in the United States may not cover citizens and legal residents going abroad, and foreign insurance plans may not necessarily apply in the United States. The first thing any traveler should do is check with the primary health insurance coverage provider, and check for stipulations about overseas coverage. Some plans may not apply overseas at all; others may not include emergency services like medical evacuation. For any trips of significant length abroad, it's worthwhile to investigate supplemental insurance if the primary insurance doesn't cover overseas travel.
For students and others engaged in a study abroad or internship program, the sponsoring institutions often have their own health insurance coverage, which applies abroad. Students can usually default to their institution's health insurance plan. If the student chooses not to, most institutions will require some kind of supplementary international insurance before signing off on overseas travel, due to liability concerns. For other travelers, there are numerous types of international insurance coverage. The most robust insurance plans can insure a person for up to two years, renewable, and up to $2 million. These plans cover most of the expenses that typical US insurance plans do, including major medical emergencies, medical evacuation, hospital stays and surgeries. However, these insurance plans are also among the most expensive. Travelers with shorter trips may want to look into single-trip insurance, good for much shorter periods of time. These health insurance plans cover the basics for overseas travel, such as unforeseen illness and doctor visits, but may omit major emergency services.
At any rate, looking into overseas insurance coverage is a valuable use of any traveler's time. No two insurance policies are alike, just like normal insurance policies. Some policies may specify that they only cover United States citizens. Others may only apply to the developed world, where high-quality health care is easily available. Broader coverage may apply to overseas travel regardless of country of origin or destination country. Thankfully, the dizzying array of international health insurance coverage is filled with options for all travelers, regardless of pocketbook size or travel plans.
