Travel medical insurance

[Quattro Pete]

Going abroad next month. Still need to check with my own insurance, but most likely it does not cover medical abroad, so I'm looking into buying separate travel medical insurance. Any recommendations as far as reputable companies that sell it?

I've found something called Frontier Medex, but can't find any reviews...

Thanks.

 

[expat]

Where are you going?

 

[Quattro Pete]

South Africa and maybe some other places.

 

[javacontour]

We are members of DAN. Our thoughts on if we have an injury or illness while traveling, they can evacuate the sick or injured party. It doesn't have to be diving related.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/benefits.asp

 

[stockrex]

quattro,
1. your current policy won't cover jack, my FIL was in the ICU in turkey, $33k bill, $0 from Aetna
2. make sure you buy travel trip and medical insurance,
3. if you buy your plane ticket with amex or other major card, most of them (business cards) have free med vac trip insurance ($500 per trip I think)

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: stockrex
quattro,
1. your current policy won't cover jack, my FIL was in the ICU in turkey, $33k bill, $0 from Aetna


Hmm... I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. I called them today and they said that my medical coverage is valid worldwide (it travels with you, as they said). Of course, you'll have to pay for it first if you're in a foreign country and then file a claim once you get back and hope you get reimbursed. But if I'm not mistaken, this is the process that one would go through even if one bought separate travel medical insurance.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
We are members of DAN. Our thoughts on if we have an injury or illness while traveling, they can evacuate the sick or injured party. It doesn't have to be diving related.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/benefits.asp


I think evacuation insurance back to the states is an absolute requirement. I know some what was evacuated from Australia for $150,000

I didn't see that in the plan.

I am personally interested in it (Evacuation Insurance) for travel within the lower 48 states. Any recommendations??

 

[97tbird]

Will ask wifey when she gets home what we used last time...she keeps all the records and stuff...

 

[javacontour]

Not sure how you missed this in the first paragraph of the link I posted.

Originally Posted By: DAN Website

As a DAN Member, you automatically receive DAN TravelAssist and up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage. Effective for both diving and non-diving injuries, this benefit is provided by AIG Travel Assist, a world leader in emergency evacuation services. Your evacuation coverage begins when you are traveling at least 50 miles/80 km from home and call DAN TravelAssist to arrange your evacuation.


Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: javacontour
We are members of DAN. Our thoughts on if we have an injury or illness while traveling, they can evacuate the sick or injured party. It doesn't have to be diving related.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/benefits.asp


I think evacuation insurance back to the states is an absolute requirement. I know some what was evacuated from Australia for $150,000

I didn't see that in the plan.

I am personally interested in it (Evacuation Insurance) for travel within the lower 48 states. Any recommendations??

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Not sure how you missed this in the first paragraph of the link I posted.
Didn't realize it was included with basic membership. I was looking at the insurance [missed the forest for the trees] About how how much is the membership?

Me and the wife are 65 and we don't dive nor would we leave the 48 states.

 

[javacontour]

I'm pretty sure it's less than $100/year for the family membership. Only my wife has any scuba training. It's just a good deal providing the medical evacuation coverage.

She signed us up, so she knows what it costs. If interested, just fill out the application and see what they want to charge you.

It's good world wide as long as you are 50+ miles from home.

 

[Tom NJ]

I also have a PPO policy which, in theory, covers you when traveling, BUT, the deductibles and max-out-of pocket double or triple, and the submitted paperwork must be perfect - exact codes etc.

The agent told me that the insurance company historically has paid about 98% of NJ claims, but only about 15% of claims from overseas.

A short term travel policy is a good idea.

Tom NJ

 

[CivicFan]

The financial aspect is not as important as having access to help navigate the channels of receiving care.

For example, my parents live in a country where they have free universal health care. But there are private health insurance companies that will coordinate the care for you. They assign a "project coordinator" who will come, pick you up, take you to a provider of your choice, take care of appointments, tests and exams, etc. It's a very nice service that let's you have one less worry in life.

You want something like that when abroad. Otherwise, the health costs are just a fraction of what the costs would be in the US.