Benefits found in a good international travel health insurance plan

International travel health insurance and trip insurance are sometimes confused. They may have similar and overlapping elements but the purpose of the plans are different. International travel health insurance plans are health and medical insurance with some trip and travel benefits. Trip insurance is to cover the loss of monies spent for the trip if certain events happen, such as a strike by the employees of the cruise line or an auto accident on the way to the cruise.

Trip insurance is commonly handled by travel agents and some insurance agents. International travel health insurance requires the agent have an insurance license. International health insurance is a specialty within the health insurance industry. Few insurance agents handle international health insurance and so it is important to find an agent that is knowledgeable and experienced with international health insurance. International travel health insurance plans are for people traveling outside of their home country. They may be US citizens or citizens of any country. Some carriers do not offer coverage to citizens of countries they consider a high risk.

International travel health insurance generally falls into two types of benefit plans. There are indemnity or a scheduled benefit plans and plans that resemble major medical health insurance plans. Plans that resemble major medical health insurance plans provide a broader less restricted coverage. Scheduled benefits are used frequently by visitors to the US due to the lower costs of the plans. Both types plan usually exclude or have limitations on pre-existing condition coverage. It is best to consult an agent who handles a few carriers to see what best fits your situation.
A good travel health insurance plan would include the following benefits.
•    Policy medical maximum – these would range from $50,000 to $1 million. The medical maximum available is typically limited to $50,000 (not always) for persons age 70 to 79 and to $10,000 or $15,000 for persons age 80 and over.

•    Deductibles – these are usually per policy period and usually are limited to 3 per family. Deductibles may be $0, $100, $250, $500, $1000 or $2500

•    Coinsurance – this is the amount an insured pays of eligible medical expenses before the insurance before the insurance pays benefits. This might be 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% or 50% of the next $5000 of medical expenses after the deductible has been met. The plan then would pay 100% of the eligible medical expenses up to the medical maximum.

•    Coverage for hospital room and board costs

•    Coverage for local ambulance costs

•    Coverage for intensive care unit costs

•    Coverage for outpatient treatment costs

•    Coverage for physical therapy costs

•    Coverage for other medical expenses as outlined in the plan. Have a look at these and what is excluded

•    Hospital indemnity – this a benefit that pays in addition to other benefits for days spent in a hospital. This is usually only for travel outside the US

•    Coverage for Dental emergency – If the emergency is due to an accident then up to limit as any other accident. If the emergency is due to pain then typically a $100 benefit.

•    Coverage for Complications of pregnancy – some plans offer coverage for complications of pregnancy up to the 26th week

•    Coverage for Acute onset of a pre-existing condition – this is a sudden and unexpected onset of a pre-existing condition. Plans that offer this typically offer this to US citizens under the age of 70. Most plans do not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions to non US citizens.

•    Emergency medical evacuation coverage – this is to cover transport to the nearest medical facility qualified to handle your life threatening situation.

•    Emergency medical reunion coverage - There may also be a benefit to provide transport, lodging and meals for relative to join the insured as well.

•    Repatriation coverage – this is the return of mortal remains to a person’s home in the event of death.

•    Home country coverage – this has two parts, incidental home country coverage which is some coverage for time you might spend in your home while traveling and end of trip coverage which is the coverage that you can have after the end of your trip and you are back home

•    Benefit period – this is the time the plan will cover you. What is particularly important is how the long and how a plan covers you after you have had an eligible injury or illness. A good plan will cover you up to 180 days from the date of your diagnosis or treatment of a covered injury or illness whether at home or abroad.

•    Expenses from and act Terrorism – does the plan cover if the injury is caused due to a terrorist attack or not. Plans that do cover usually exclude events that are nuclear, chemical or biological.

•    Accidental death and dismemberment coverage – this pays in the event a person is killed in an accident, loses a limb or loses vision.

•    Natural disaster benefit – additional monies to help cover the costs of alternative accommodations in the event a person is caught in a natural disaster

•    Hazardous Sports rider coverage – many plans exclude what is considered hazardous sports. There are plans that do have the option of covering hazardous sports. So check the exclusions and what the optional rider will cover.

•    Travel coverage and assistance including trip interruption, lost luggage, lost documents, travel assistance, travel alerts, political evacuation, contact information for doctors, lawyers and replacement of prescriptions, availability of a visa letter proof of insurance for the countries that require this

•    Renewability – Some plans are not renewal or extendable once the plan is in force. Some plans can be extended while on your trip. It is important to check this.

Your travel health insurance is a valuable part of your trip. The time you want to become familiar with it is when you are calm maybe before you leave on your trip. Traveling can be disorienting. You may be flying a long time. You may be changing time zones. You may be where you don’t speak the language. Hopefully you will not become sick or have an injury but if you do it is important to have the best insurance you can get.

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About the Author:

John K Arnold is the author of this article on International Health Insurance. Find more information about Travel Health Insurance here.