If your social media feed is anything like mine during the summer then it’s filled with pictures of all my friends on vacation. Beaches or mountains or foreign countries…whatever or wherever it is, I love seeing people enjoy a little freedom to explore. What I love even more is knowing the people that are near and dear are protected no matter where they are.
Did you know that 1 in 5 people suffer an injury while on vacation? Food poisoning is the most common way people are injured on vacation according to the CDC. Car or bike accidents are second, and skiing accidents are third. We all want our family vacations to be absolutely perfect, but even with the best planning, accidents sometimes happen.
A concern for many is the questions of how does your health insurance work when you travel. With all the changes in health insurance coverage, you may need special travel medical insurance. If you are traveling abroad, your health insurance may not provide any coverage.
How to Find Out if My Health Insurance Will Cover Me on Vacation
The simple answer is to call your health insurance company or your agent. Many US health insurance policies will provide some sort of coverage as long as you’re within the United States, but that is not always the case. It’s important to verify what networks may or may not respond if an accident were to happen and to talk through any concerns with a knowledgeable expert.
Traveling abroad? Many policies do NOT offer any type of coverage if you’re in a different country. It’s important to verify with your health insurance company before leaving. If that’s the case then no worries, you still have options.
Why Consider Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance provides you with peace of mind for a wide range of situations, including accidents and evacuations. If your current health plan is not a multi-state plan, you would not have coverage for traveling into another state. Some plans allow you to get requests and referrals out-of-state, some plans have separate out-of-network cost sharing amounts, and some don’t cover any costs beyond an emergency.
When Should I Buy Travel Medical Insurance?
There’s no better time than prior to leaving for vacation.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Remember, each policy may offer different terms and coverage. Here are examples
- Trip Cancellation coverage reimburses you for prepaid, non-refundable expenses should you have to cancel or reschedule your trip.
- Lost or Damaged Luggage and personal effects
- Medical Expenses while traveling abroad.
- Medical Expenses while on a cruise. For Cruises, your health insurance may not cover you if you are traveling on a foreign-flagged ship.
- Emergency Evacuations
- 24/7 Phone assistance.
How Much Does It Cost?
Travel insurance can cost anywhere from $20 to $500+ depending on the length of the trip, the type of coverage you want, and the amount of people you’re covering. It’s customizable to you and your plans.
How Do I Purchase Travel Insurance?
Sometimes the hardest part is just knowing how to do something. If you are interested in purchasing travel insurance give us a call at 405-373-2977.
