Travelling exposes you to new places and cultures, but it can also bring challenges to your health and well-being. That’s why, in this travel medical insurance comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why it’s essential to consider the potential costs of medical care if you fall ill abroad.
This is where Travel Medical Insurance comes in. It can help offset those costs so you don’t have to worry about spending from your budget because of an unexpected medical emergency.
What Is Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance is a type of insurance that helps cover the cost of emergency medical treatments during a trip. If you’re travelling and have an unexpected illness, medical condition or injury that’s covered, your insurance will take care of the expenses up to the plan limits.
The Benefits of Comprehensive Travel Medical Insurance
Investing in a comprehensive travel medical insurance policy offers several benefits which include:
- Peace of mind – Medical emergencies can happen anytime. Knowing that your vacation budget won’t be affected gives you peace of mind.
- No need to delay care till you return – You can get the treatment you need right away, rather than waiting until you return home.
- Foreign language help – Communicating with medical personnel about your condition can be challenging if you are not fluent in the country’s official language. Your insurance provider will facilitate emergency services so you can easily have these conversations.
Common types of coverage in Travel medical insurance
1. Emergency Services—This covers emergency medical care in case of an accident or illness that occurs while on your trip. It also covers evacuation from the country if necessary.
2. Pre-existing Conditions—If you have a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or asthma, this will help cover those costs if they develop while you’re travelling.
3. Hospitalization—You may need to be hospitalized while overseas but will still have access to care through a local doctor or hospital.
What Differentiates Travel Medical Insurance From Health Insurance?
Travel medical insurance is a supplemental policy that helps protect you while you are travelling. Its validity is only for the length of your trip and is meant to supplement your health insurance when you’re out of coverage area.
If you suffer a health emergency on your trip, your health insurance policy may not cover the cost of the treatment and services you receive. Travel medical insurance can help fill in the gaps in this case.
Who Needs Travel Medical Insurance?
If you’re travelling to a country that your health insurance provider doesn’t cover, buying travel medical insurance is necessary. Even if your insurance provider will cover healthcare costs in the country you’re travelling to, travel medical insurance can still help lower your expenses and reduce potential out-of-network costs for any emergencies.
Additionally, it is important to research the country you are planning to visit to learn whether you will need this insurance. This is because some countries may require you to show proof of travel medical insurance before entering their country. Some of these countries include St. Maarten, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, the United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, and French Polynesia.
How Much Does Travel Medical Insurance Cost?
Policies differ in price but it is generally affordable. This depends on the insurance provider and coverage limits. Higher coverage limits and longer coverage terms increase the cost of the policy.
How to Choose Medical Travel Insurance
Before you choose a medical travel insurance provider, determine what your needs are. Then, look for an insurance provider that offers you the types of coverage and coverage limits you need.
To know more about Travel Medical Insurance, reach out to us at Leadway Insurance and an insurance advisor will contact and guide you.
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