Does your regular health insurance cover you when you travel abroad? That’s one question you don’t want to find yourself asking when you’re already at the airport — or, worse, in a hospital on your holiday.
While your domestic health insurance plan may do the trick when you’re at home, odds are it won’t cover your medical expenses when traveling internationally. Travel medical insurance fills this gap for international medical emergencies.
You don’t want costly surprises when you’re far from home.
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Domestic Health Insurance vs. Travel Medical Insurance
Your domestic health insurance covers medical expenses within your home country — and probably only within your home country.
Travel health insurance is for emergencies and healthcare while traveling internationally. While buying travel insurance means an added expense on top of your vacation costs, getting sick while traveling is all too common. Proper medical coverage can help you get the care you need.
The last thing you want to do when far away from home is debate whether to seek necessary medical care due to cost concerns.
Travel medical insurance can also cover travel-specific risks, like being in areas where access to healthcare is limited or participating in activities many of us might not do regularly at home, like surfing or sandboarding.
Let’s say you injure yourself on a remote hiking trip in Patagonia and need an airlift to a hospital. Or your injuries are so severe you need an emergency flight back home for advanced medical care. Travel medical coverage can come to the rescue by covering those costs. Your domestic coverage won’t.
When to Buy Travel Medical Insurance
Having a comprehensive medical policy isn’t necessary for every trip, but there are times you’ll want to make extra sure you’re covered.
For international trips
Domestic insurance rarely covers healthcare costs abroad, making travel medical insurance essential before setting sail.
Having a medical emergency at home is scary, but having one far away where you don’t speak the language and have no familiarity with the local medical industry can be outright terrifying.
Many travel insurance providers offer 24/7 emergency assistance and can help you locate a preferred clinic and even provide translation services.
For high-risk activities or destinations
Some trips involve a lot more risk than others. High tea and a trip to Buckingham Palace in London likely won’t require an airlift emergency rescue. Backpacking through Peru might though.
If you’re headed to a high-risk destination or planning dangerous activities, get ready to stock up on extra coverage. You may need to buy an adventure sports add-on.
Also, check that your policy includes evacuation services if you’re traveling to remote locations where that might be necessary.
For extended trips or multi-country travel
If you have big travel plans, look for a policy that lets you extend your coverage as your travel plans change.
You can ensure continuous coverage for long-term travel or trips across multiple regions with the right policy add-on.
Spend some time researching a few different travel insurance providers to see which can best meet your needs. You can use an online marketplace like SquareMouth or VisitorsCoverage to browse and compare policies.
How to Combine Domestic and Travel Medical Insurance
To get the most bang for your buck, see if you can combine your domestic and travel medical insurance benefits. And when buying travel insurance, look for a plan that fills missing coverage gaps, not one that overlaps your normal domestic coverage.
After all, traveling is already expensive and you don’t want to overspend on coverage you don’t need.
Check what your domestic insurance covers
In most cases, your domestic health insurance policy won’t cover international medical costs.
However, it never hurts to call your provider to verify if international coverage is included in your plan.
If it is, you may be able to submit receipts for emergency care that you received (and paid for upfront) while traveling for reimbursement.
Select a travel insurance policy that fills the gaps
Once you know what coverage you still need, fill any gaps with add-ons, such as an adventure sports add-on or pre-existing condition waiver.
Remember, you want coverage for emergency evacuations and other trip-specific risks.
Avoid overlapping coverage
In most cases, your domestic plan won’t cover much, but you don’t want to pay for extra coverage you don’t need. Double-checking what you’re paying for is always worth it.
That way, you can allocate more of your travel budget to fun spending like city tours, fancy dinners, and room upgrades.
Common Misconceptions About Travel Medical Insurance
All types of insurance are confusing, but travel insurance can be even more difficult to navigate. So, understandably, there are a lot of misconceptions about it, like:
- “My domestic insurance covers me everywhere.” Most domestic policies only cover medical care and emergency costs in your home country, so don’t bank on your home coverage to get the job done when abroad.
- “Travel insurance is too expensive.” Policies are often affordable and customizable to your needs. Usually, a travel insurance policy costs 4-10% of a trip’s total cost. When planning your trip, remember that the more you spend on airfare, hotels, train tickets, tours, etc., the higher your travel insurance premium.
- “I don’t need insurance for short trips.” Even short trips can involve unexpected emergencies. Ideally, you will never use your travel medical insurance. But if disaster does arise, you’ll be relieved to have the financial protection and support.
FAQs About Travel Medical Insurance
Can I use my travel insurance for routine doctor visits during my trip?
Travel insurance isn’t designed with routine care in mind. Instead, the purpose is to cover the costs of emergency medical care due to unexpected accidents or illnesses.
Is travel insurance required for certain destinations?
Destinations usually don’t require you to have travel insurance to enter the country, but if you booked an organized tour, the tour company may require it.
Also, there are some destinations where having travel insurance makes more sense. While an accident or illness can occur anywhere, pay attention to what unique risks your destination poses.
For example, if you are visiting Rome, you likely don’t need to overspend on emergency evacuation services. However, that extra coverage may give you peace of mind for a major train trip through South America.
How do I choose between single-trip and annual travel insurance policies?
Purchasing an annual travel insurance policy only makes sense if you travel very consistently and need the convenience of ongoing coverage.
Digital nomads may want to look into getting an insurance policy that can travel with them for as long as they decide to wander.
For more typical one- or two-week vacations, a single-trip policy will do.
Can I get travel medical insurance if I have pre-existing conditions?
Yes, you can get travel insurance even if you have a pre-existing condition. That said, you likely won’t receive coverage for that specific condition unless you buy an add-on that offers coverage for pre-existing conditions.
It’s always best to be upfront with your travel insurance provider about your specific needs to ensure you aren’t cut off from key coverage.
TL;DR: Do I Need Travel Medical Insurance?
Yes, you likely need travel insurance for international trips since your domestic health insurance typically won't cover medical costs abroad. Travel insurance covers emergency medical care, evacuations, and travel-specific risks.
For peace of mind, check what your domestic insurance covers first, then purchase travel insurance that fills any gaps. Even on short trips, having travel insurance ensures you can get proper care without facing massive medical bills when far from home.
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