Consider taking out a short-term international health insurance plan to cover any health and medical emergencies you run into overseas.
Purpose While traveling, medical emergencies and accidents put you in a complicated position. You may be stuck in a country with an unfamiliar culture where you don't speak the language, dealing with doctors you don't know. To deal with the trauma of injury or sickness, a short-term medical insurance policy can ease the transition through--and cost of--care and transport home.
If traveling abroad, be prepared for medical risks with an international travel insurance plan for accidents, medical emergencies, sickness and potential disability. Such a plan can cover you whether you're taking a brief five-day vacation or an extended series of trips over many months. If you're traveling for more than six months or a year, consider a more comprehensive major medical insurance policy.
Advantages If you're a U.S. citizen or foreign visitor expecting to stay abroad for an extended period, you can garner great advantages from a travel medical insurance policy. Having a primary domestic insurance plan may be a prerequisite during the application process, and senior age limits may apply to such policies.
Travel medical insurance plans regularly set certain limits--up to $1 million--in medical benefits, along with coverage for: • Accidental deaths • Events under acts of war and terrorism • Emergency medical evacuation • Pre-existing conditions under certain policies • Repatriation of a deceased individual's remains.
Different Types of Coverage A travel health insurance plan potentially fills in the gaps your domestic health insurance plan doesn't cover. Possible plan offerings include:
• Comprehensive trip package plans--designed for travelers concerned with insuring potential medical expenses along with baggage and potential cancellations • Emergency medical evacuation plan--covering extreme injuries or illnesses in a remote locale, when you must be airlifted or transported long-distance to the nearest hospital • International student plans--for individuals studying abroad pursuing research for an extended period. Student visa holders often can't travel without some kind of comprehensive health insurance policy. • Multi-trip travel medical insurance--for those taking numerous trips within a single period. Supplemental coverage can pay for accidents and medical emergencies. • Single trip travel medical insurance--meant for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals visiting the U.S., offering medical and health insurance for five days up to 12 months of travel.
If eyeing a short-term health insurance plan to cover your domestic life, review some common short-term health insurance exclusions.