Your standard medical insurance policy will cover your medical expenses if you fall sick or get injured. However, if this happens while you’re on a trip abroad, you will likely need extra coverage, mainly because hospitals in other countries do not usually accept U.S. healthcare plans.
Additionally, most U.S. healthcare insurance plans only provide coverage within a predetermined network of hospitals and healthcare providers. Travel insurance can be useful in this situation because the policy has a medical coverage portion that covers the medical expenses that may arise if you need emergency medical attention while traveling internationally. Here is more information about medical travel insurance.
What Does Travel a Typical Medical Insurance Plan Cover?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 79% of people traveling abroad suffer travel-related health issues. Those traveling to low and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to these problems. While some health issues are usually minor, others can be severe to require medical attention. If you need hospitalization, it may be difficult for you to afford medical attention abroad without the right insurance coverage.
This is where travel medical insurance is highly beneficial. Specifically, it provides coverage for medical emergencies that may arise while you’re in a foreign country. It also covers emergency treatment, dental treatment, emergency evacuation, hospital bills, travel assistance services, and doctors’ fees. Depending on the type of coverage you have, travel medical insurance can also cover the financial losses suffered if you cancel your trip due to an injury or illness.
For instance, if you cancel your flight because of sickness, you will likely lose your money, particularly because most airlines don’t reimburse money for canceled tickets. Fortunately, travel insurance will reimburse the money you spent on a canceled ticket. Note that the cancellation must result from a covered reason for the insurance company to absorb the loss.
When is Travel Medical Insurance Necessary?
Due to many travel-related health risks, you should have travel insurance any time you want to travel abroad or even within your state. For instance, you can fall sick, get injured in an accident, miss a flight, cancel a flight, or suffer a life-threatening medical emergency. The cost of healthcare abroad may also be high, especially if you require more advanced treatment. Since your healthcare plan may not provide coverage out of your network, you will need travel medical insurance to cover these costs.
This coverage will save you from paying for treatment expenses out of pocket if you fall sick or get injured in your destination. Illnesses and accidents can be unpredictable. Keeping this in mind, ensure you purchase travel medical insurance. Given that COVID-19 is still a threat ensure you carry this coverage even if you’ve been fully vaccinated. This way, you will have peace of mind during your trip.
How Donald Weiss Insurance Services can Help
Are you looking for the right travel insurance to cover you while you travel? Contact our insurance professionals at Donald Weiss Insurance Services. Our insurance experts can customize the perfect travel policy that includes cancellation coverage for you.