Planning a Trip Abroad? Steps to Purchase the Right Travel Insurance
There’s nothing like the excitement of planning a trip overseas. It’s easy to get carried away with the anticipation, and while you may already have a checklist going (you do, don’t you?), you might be forgetting an important piece of the proverbial travel puzzle: travel insurance.
“Travel insurance for US citizens?” you might be asking. I have insurance. Well, if you’re a US citizen you know how complicated health insurance can be domestically, and if you have a medical condition of whatever stripe or severity, you know navigating the insurance system doesn’t always mean a straight line. What happens if something happens to you overseas? Here are three simple steps you can take to give yourself peace of mind. You’ll be happy you prepared, especially if you need to visit a doctor overseas.
Make a list of potential issues
Are you traveling alone, or with your family? Regardless, you should make a list of potential issues that might arise abroad. If someone has a pre-existing condition, note that. Are you planning to play a sport abroad? Even something as seemingly benign as hiking could lead to a sprain or break. What happens in that case? Make a note of your recent visits to the doctor, say over the past twelve months, and the conditions that took you there. Could they recur? What happens if they do, and where will you find treatment abroad if so?
Contact your insurer
Look at your current plan and contact your insurer to see what’s covered, if anything, for overseas travel. We strongly recommend you contact your insurer and ask specific questions in preparation, as often the terminology can be confusing in writing. Be sure to ask what medical costs are covered outside the country, and for the international number to contact the insurer should something happen while you’re overseas.
You’ll also want to ask about medical transportation coverage. Typically the emergency need for transportation back home is covered by emergency ambulance service, but transportation and treatment are separate insurance benefits. Consider how expensive it might be should you need emergency care, hospitalization, and repatriation from a foreign country. This could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, and who has that in their budget? Even if you do, I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to spend it that way.
Talk to an expert
Securing travel insurance for US citizens has its complications, but the process doesn’t need to be a headache. Fortunately you don’t have to become an expert in travel insurance to secure yourself against a financial disaster. At Insurance Services of America, we make health insurance for foreign nationals as easy as ready, set, renew. Call (800) 647-4589 or 01 (480) 821-9052 to learn more.
