What happens if you fall sick or have an accident during your vacation abroad?
Well, if you have travel insurance, you’ll likely be covered for medical emergencies. But if you don’t, you may owe a lot in unexpected costs.
If you have an upcoming trip and want to make sure you don’t lose out on hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars because of sickness or injury, it’s a smart move to buy travel insurance.
But before you do, make sure you know the common medical emergencies that are usually covered by travel insurance — and the situations that aren’t.
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Why You Need Travel Insurance for Medical Emergencies
When you’re traveling, there are a lot of unknowns. Being in a new environment brings a higher risk of medical risks — anything from getting sick from the water to catching an unfamiliar flu.
And health issues become even more stressful when you don’t know how to find a hospital.
Medical emergencies abroad can also cost a lot more than you think. Ambulance rides, medical evacuations, and hospital stays can easily eclipse tens of thousands of dollars — even in destinations that may be cheap otherwise.
Travel insurance not only covers those costs but can connect you with vetted healthcare providers in the location you’re visiting.
Types of Medical Emergencies Covered by Travel Insurance
Having comprehensive travel health insurance can save you from huge medical bills — but it’s important to understand exactly what coverage is offered.
Here are a few common medical emergencies that are covered by most travel insurance policies:
- Illnesses and infections: This includes illnesses such as the flu, food poisoning, and infections that require hospitalization or medical services.
- Injuries from accidents: This includes bone fractures, burns, and head injuries. Note that certain activities may require a separate adventure and sports policy rider.
- Emergency medical evacuations: This covers ambulance rides, medical airlift, or transportation back home for advanced care and treatment.
- Dental emergencies: This includes things like sudden dental pain or injuries (such as broken teeth).
- Repatriation of remains: If the worst should happen, many travel insurance policies cover the cost of transportation of remains back home.
What is typically excluded from medical emergency coverage?
While many medical emergencies are covered by a standard travel insurance policy, there are also many that aren’t.
Here are a few exclusions to know about before your trip:
- Pre-existing conditions without waivers: Many travel insurers offer waivers that remove any exclusions due to your condition — but if you haven’t bought the waiver in advance, you may not be covered.
- Injuries from high-risk activities: If you’re a thrill-seeking enthusiast but get injured in a high-risk activity, your policy may not cover your medical care. This includes activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, and deep sea diving. The only way to be covered is with an adventure sports add-on.
- Non-emergency medical visits: If you decide to get a routine check-up or pre-scheduled treatment while traveling, those costs are not usually covered.
COMPARE: Best Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage
How To Maximize Your Emergency Coverage
If you don’t want to end up with any surprise medical bills, here are a few tips to follow:
Understand your policy’s limits
All travel insurance policies have coverage limits. This includes expense limits for medical emergencies — but may also include individual expense limits for things like medical evacuation and per-person coverage.
Review your policy for the types of events that are covered and the amount of coverage you have for each incident. Most insurers will allow you to purchase additional coverage if your chosen policy feels too limited.
Carry emergency contact information
To make sure you receive care at a preferred provider covered by your travel insurance, keep a card on you with your insurer’s phone number and your policy number.
This can help emergency medical staff quickly confirm your coverage and ensure you are taken care of.
Know the claims process
Not only do you want to get treated quickly, but you also want to make sure your medical bills are paid (or you’re reimbursed) in a timely manner!
Document all medical expenses that relate to the injury or illness, and review your insurer’s claims process. This will make it easier (and faster) to submit your claim and receive payment.
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FAQs About Medical Emergencies and Travel Insurance
Are pandemic-related illnesses (e.g., COVID-19) covered by travel insurance?
While many travel insurance policies now cover COVID-19 medical expenses, this may not be the case if a new pandemic were to break out.
Most travel insurance policies won’t cover you if there’s a known risk and you still travel — like if there’s an active pandemic announced and the government issues a no-travel advisory, but you go anyway.
Insurers may have specific policy restrictions around COVID-19 and other outbreaks, so review your coverage details to make sure you’re comfortable with the coverage.
How do I find a local doctor or hospital in a foreign country?
Most countries have a foreign embassy or consulate to help visitors traveling abroad. You should be able to find hospital or doctor recommendations on the U.S. embassy website for the country you are visiting.
Does travel insurance cover prescription medications abroad?
Most travel insurance covers the costs of emergency medical treatment, including prescription medications, for new and unforeseen medical emergencies.
If you have a known health condition that requires prescription medication, the Center for Disease Control says most countries allow you to bring a 30-day supply of medication — but you might not be able to fill that prescription overseas, so meet with your healthcare specialist for how to handle longer trips.
Is dental coverage standard in most travel insurance plans?
While basic dental coverage for medical emergencies is usually available in most travel insurance plans, it may be limited in the scope of coverage.
For example, many insurers only cover dental injuries (such as cracked teeth) to your natural teeth. This means getting new fillings or major dental work like crowns or dentures may not be covered. Check with your insurer for exact dental coverage details.
TL;DR: Which Medical Emergencies Are Covered by Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance has your back for most medical emergencies abroad, from getting the flu to breaking a bone. But check the fine print — things like pre-existing conditions and extreme sports usually aren't covered unless you buy extra protection.
To avoid any nasty surprises, check what your policy actually covers and keep your insurance company's contact info handy.
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