22 Feb 2008 03:51:47 | Fern Kuhn, RN
Do I need travel insurance?
In the United States health insurance, unlike many other
countries, you can find dozens of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
Hundreds of regular commercial insurance and so many more health
insurance plans like managed-care plans—HMOs, PPOs and PPG's.
For some travelers, they may have Medicaid, and for those over
65 years have Medicare.
All of these different types of plans have many various
benefits, costs, deductibles, exclusions and restrictions.
So think before you travel and check your existing health policy
to see what it pays for. It may reimburse you for up to 100% of
the cost of emergency medical care when you're out of the
country, of course, excluding any deductible or copayments.
For nonemergency care overseas you may be covered but probably
will have to call your insurance company or HMO in the United
States for all for treatments that need to be authorized.
Check with your health plan about this before you leave home
because failure to get authorization from your HMO or insurance
company may mean you will not get reimbursed if you later file a
claim
If your health insurance policy doesn't cover your medical cost
abroad, or you do not have any coverage whatsoever, then you
should consider purchasing a travel health specific insurance
policy.
Even if your present health insurance will pay doctor and
hospital bills when you're out of the country, you may want to
purchase a travel insurance policy to get other important
benefits such as coverage for air ambulance transport and
on-site medical expense payment.
With some specific diseases like diabetes, COPD, epilepsy, etc
when you're traveling it may not be covered so make sure you
first speak we your health insurance agent before you travel and
then see what is covered.
When my father travels he does get travel insurance, not for the
benefit of the health insurance, but just in case he does get
ill and unable to take the trip at the at the time he supposed
to travel. This way he can get his money back.
About Author :
Copyright 2005 Fern Kuhn, RN Specializing in Diabetes
