International Health Insurance For Travel Cost: While travel exposes you to new sights and cultures, it can also bring challenges and difficulties when it comes to your health and well-being. If you are dreaming of traveling abroad, it can be helpful to consider the possible costs associated with an injury or serious illness abroad.
International Health insurance for travel can help offset these costs, so you don’t have to worry about losing your budget due to an unexpected medical emergency. This is how International Health Insurance For Travel works:
What is travel health insurance?
Travel health insurance covers the cost of emergency medical treatment during a trip. If you’re traveling and have an unexpected illness, medical condition, or injury that’s covered by your travel health insurance, you’ll usually be reimbursed up to the limits of the plan.
In general, most domestic health insurance policies are not accepted abroad, so purchasing travel health insurance to supplement your health insurance is beneficial. Travel health insurance only applies to trips.
The benefits of International Health Insurance For Travel
Investing in travel health insurance offers several advantages. Here are a few:
- Peace of Mind – Medical emergencies can strike without warning. Knowing that your vacation budget won’t be devastated by the expense of unexpected injuries and illnesses can give you some peace of mind.
- No need to delay care – With travel health insurance, you can focus on getting the care or treatment you need, rather than postponing treatment until you get home.
- Foreign Language Support – If you are not fluent in the country’s official language, communicating your condition to medical staff can be difficult. Your travel health insurance can help facilitate emergency services so you can have those conversations effectively.
Without travel health insurance, you will have to bear these unexpected costs yourself. At best, this can put a strain on your holiday budget, at worst cause high debts or endanger your health.
How does travel health insurance differ from my health insurance?
Travel medical insurance is different from your medical insurance because travel medical insurance is additional insurance that protects you during your trip. It is only valid for the duration of your trip and is intended to supplement your health insurance when you have no network.
If you have a medical emergency during your trip, your health insurance may not cover the cost of the treatment and services you receive. Even if you’re traveling within the United States, your policy may not provide off-network coverage.
International Health Insurance For Travel can help fill in the gaps while providing additional protection to keep you safe and healthy during your trip.
Do I need travel insurance if I have health insurance?
A common misconception about travel medical insurance is that if you have medical insurance, it is not required.
Keep in mind that many health plans are only valid on the network and within the United States. If you are traveling abroad or even traveling within the United States but outside of your provider’s network, another healthcare system may not accept your insurance.
Who should get International Health Insurance For Travel?
Almost every traveler can take advantage of the additional protection of travel health insurance. Some that might consider it are in particular:
- Families with children
- Anyone visiting a country that speaks a different language
- People with chronic diseases
- Solo travelers
- Travelers to a remote place
Does my health insurance work internationally?
Many health insurance companies do not cover you abroad. For those who do, coverage is often limited and you must pay at the time of service, keep receipts, and request reimbursement once you get home. In the event of a medical or dental emergency while in another country, you could end up spending a large chunk of your money or having to charge significant amounts from your credit card while still on the road.
Travel health insurance plans typically cover emergency medical and dental expenses. Emergency transportation costs such as an ambulance or airlift are also covered, as are emergency evacuations that you get from a remote location to appropriate medical care.
What is covered by International Health Insurance For Travel?
International Health Insurance For Travel covers many emergencies, but is not intended for preventative treatment or regular medical care. It is used to cover emergencies such as:
- Broken bones
- Heart attack
- Be successful
- Dental emergency treatments
- Medical evacuations
- Emergency transport
- Emergency repatriation
Anything that constitutes a medical emergency and requires you to seek treatment during your trip should generally be covered by comprehensive travel health insurance. If you go to the doctor for a routine check-up, you have to pay for it yourself or apply to your health insurance company.
Who needs International Health Insurance For Travel?
Purchasing International Health Insurance For Travel is an easy way to save money in an emergency and anyone can take advantage of the coverage.
If you are traveling to a country where your health insurance does not provide coverage, purchasing travel medical insurance is a must. If your insurance company covers healthcare costs in the country you’re traveling to, buying coverage can still help lower your costs and reduce potential off-the-grid emergency costs.
This also applies if you are traveling on a cruise ship. You can usually get medical care on board the ship and you should be able to cover these costs from your health insurance. However, if your injuries need to be taken to a medical facility ashore, travel medical insurance can be helpful.
You can also research the country you plan to visit to find out if you need travel health insurance. Some countries, including Aruba, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United Arab Emirates, may require you to provide proof of travel medical insurance before entering their country.
How much does International Health Insurance For Travel cost?
When you’re covering the cost of a vacation, the thought of paying for health insurance when traveling abroad can seem like an unnecessary expense. Fortunately, travel health insurance is usually very affordable.
The policy costs between $40 and $80 on average. Keep in mind that higher coverage limits and longer coverage periods usually increase the cost of the policy.
Factors affect the International Health Insurance For Travel Cost:
There is no fixed price for International Health Insurance For Travel. It can range from $150 per month to $1,000 per month. The price depends on the following factors:
- Your age. The amount you have to pay for health insurance increases with age. Many companies do not sell their policies when the customer is over a certain age (e.g. 80 years) because of the increased risk of serious complications.
- Coverage amount. All insurance companies offer different plans with different coverage’s and therefore different prices. If you have a higher policy maximum (e.g. $1 million), you will have to pay higher premiums than if you had a lower maximum (e.g. $100,000). If you have optional supplemental insurance, such as dental or maternity insurance, insurance costs will also be higher.
- How many people are included in the policy? E.g. A couple or a family pays more than a single person. The more family members, the higher the price.
- The deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay yourself before the company intervenes. If the deductible is higher, the monthly or annual premium will be lower. When the deductible is low (or zero), premiums are higher)
- Coverage area. Most insurance companies charge a higher price if you want to be insured in the US. This is due to the high healthcare costs in the United States.
- Payment method. You have to choose whether you want to pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Typically, an annual payment ends up being cheaper than a monthly payment.
- Your medical history. If you have pre-existing medical conditions that you want to include, this will bring out the prince of Police.
How to choose International Health Insurance For Travel?
Purchasing quality International Health Insurance For Travel is a great way to protect yourself against unexpected medical expenses when traveling abroad. Find an insurance company that offers you the coverage types and coverage limits you need so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
Travel insurance is provided by our trusted partner Travel Insured International* – a leading travel insurance provider offering domestic and international travel protection, products, and services.
Choosing the Best International Health Insurance For Travel Plan
When shopping around for health insurance, you need to have an idea of what you’re looking for so you know what the best international health insurance plan is for you. All policies cover the following basic points:
- Hospitalization and intensive care
- Surgery and anesthesia
- Laboratory tests and x-rays.
- Visit the doctor
- Emergency care and emergency room visits
- Prescribed medication
Then different plans also offer coverage for the following, sometimes as an optional “add-on”:
- Preconditions
- Dentistry
- Eye care and prescription glasses
- Physical therapy
- Visit the chiropractor
- Mental health
- Maternity
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Dangerous sport
- Care services
- Hospice
- Evacuation or repatriation (to your home country)
- Alternative medicine
- Reporting on terrorism
- Preventive measures such as routine examinations.
The more coverage you have, the more expensive the policy will be.
Other factors to consider when looking for the best insurance policy for you are:
How will you pay?
You can pay for the policy monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. Paying annually usually saves you around 1-2 months in premium, but not always.
The cover line.
The insurance policy may state that you have a $1,000,000 limit, but is that limit per year, per policy, per claim, or a lifetime limit?
The deductible.
You pay this amount yourself before the insurer steps in and takes care of the rest. The deductible can be claimed or claimed once a year. It could be $20,000, $1,000, $100, or even $0. The lower the deductible, the higher the cost of the policy.
The Exclusions.
Be sure to read the exclusions section of your insurance policy so you are not caught off guard in the event of an emergency.
The supply area.
They might fall under “Asia”, but for example all Asian countries or just Pacific Asia?
The PPO network.
Does your insurance company have a PPO network? Are there any hospitals or clinics near your location that are covered by their PPO network?
Are you already insured?
Your employer may offer an insurance plan, or you can move to a country with national health insurance. Clarify this again with your employer if you move abroad for work.
How do I buy an International Health Insurance For Travel plan?
You can take out international health insurance online:
Directly from the insurer’s website.
Via health insurance comparison portals such as Insubuy or International Insurance. These websites allow you to compare different insurance plans side by side and choose the one that best suits your needs.
After taking out health insurance, keep the proof of insurance you received and, if applicable, your ID number or insurance card. Also, keep emergency phone numbers and email information in case you need to contact them.
Best International Health Insurance For Travel Providers(Companies)
Here are some of the best international health insurers:
IMG
IMG is a health insurer focused on international and travel insurance for individuals, families, and businesses.
Their three most popular plans are Global Medical Insurance, Global Mission Medical Insurance, and Global Crew Medical Insurance.
AXA
Headquartered in France, AXA is one of the leading life and health insurers with offices around the world. It offers five different international insurance plans: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus.
Generali Global support
Founded in 1831, the Generali Group is part of Europ Assistance and focuses primarily on health insurance for companies with mobile employees and employee groups worldwide.
There are three different “core” plans, Select, Classic, and Premier, and three additional outpatient options. Compliant worldwide, also in North America.
Cigna
Cigna is one of the first insurance companies, dating back to 1792.
They offer different levels of coverage for individual health insurance plans: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. They also offer group health insurance and other insurance services in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Allianz worldwide
Allianz, another powerful, experienced, and well-known insurance company, offers three different coverage plans, Essential, Classic, and Premier, with optional add-ons like maternity and dental coverage.
They operate worldwide and are located in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, America, and Africa.
William Russel
William Russell is a modern health insurer that only entered the market in 1992. Today it is part of the much larger Allianz Group. They offer health insurance for ex-pats who want to live and work anywhere in the world except the US and Switzerland.
Bupa Global
Bupa is a health insurance company headquartered in the UK with additional offices in Australia, EU countries and Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Its partner GeoBlue offers health insurance for US citizens traveling abroad or relocating to the United States.
GeoBlue
GeoBlue Insurance offers international health insurance plans for the United States. Employers who send their employees abroad, but also to individual travelers.
There are five different plans to choose from with different levels of coverage. GeoBlue Xplorer is one of the most popular plans.
Expacare Global Healthcare
With over 35 years of experience, this company offers policies written by insurers within Lloyd’s of London.
Particularly suitable for ex-pats planning to live in one of the EU countries. Their policies are personalized for individuals and families, international students, groups, and businesses.
A Plus International Healthcare
A Plus International is an Asian company that works with AXA to provide international health insurance.
A Plus offers four different global insurance plans, Hospitalization, Global 80, Global 100, and Global 100 Plus, as well as the option to add add-ons. Southeast Asia plans to apply exclusively to residents of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Which International Health Insurance For Travel company should you choose?
Well, here it comes down to individual preference, nationality, and geographic location – aka where you are moving to. Health insurance should not be taken lightly, because in the worst case it can make the difference between life and death.
Therefore, you should do your research, read reviews, read each policy carefully, and familiarize yourself with the company’s claims procedures before making a decision.
Claim International Health Insurance For Travel Insurance
Every good company has a 24/7 hotline that you can call in an emergency. They also have procedures in place for you to claim if you need to – usually online. Before purchasing the insurance plan, be sure to find out how to make international health insurance for travel claims by asking directly or reading brochures.
You will need proof that you received medical care or treatment, such as Prescriptions, a hospital bill, pharmacy receipts, etc. So keep them safe.
