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.
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