Many Californians are getting ready to plan their summer vacations. Destinations like Mexico, Europe, Canada and Asia are on many people’s “must visit ” lists. 
With more restrictions on U.S. health insurance, it is most likely that your primary U.S. health insurance will cover only a fraction of any actual costs incurred overseas – and most likely only in a true emergency situation. However, buying an inexpensive medical travel insurance policy will give you peace of mind and ensure that you and your family are covered should you get unexpectedly sick during your overseas trip.
Why you should not rely on your U.S. health insurance overseas:
- Only limited access to quality healthcare:
U.S. health insurance companies do not offer networks of overseas medical providers and hospitals. This means it is your responsibility during an emergency situation to locate a medical provider and/or hospital that offers quality care and hopefully speaks your language.
- Emergency Medical Evacuation:
Most U.S. health insurance plans do not cover medical emergency evacuation. The cost of airlifting and medical emergency evacuation can be very expensive starting at $ 25000 and may exceed $ 250,000.
- Lack of immediate care:
You may be able to contact your doctor or a doctor of your U.S. health insurance via telemedicine. However, he/she will not be able to give you a prescription for medication that will be honored by an overseas pharmacy and/or send you to a network hospital overseas.
- Hassle of medical claims processing:
After you have finally located and received medical help overseas, you then have to deal with the headache of processing the medical claims with your U.S. insurance. You will have to translate the medical bills and medical records, find the correct medical billing codes and verify the conversion of foreign currency you spent. However, it is most likely that you will need to chase the U.S. health insurance carrier to get your reimbursement for your out-of-pocket expenses.
Medicare does not cover healthcare overseas:
Many seniors love to travel during their retirement and often to overseas destinations. Did you know that Medicare does not cover you overseas and that your supplemental plan or Advantage plans cover only limited overseas healthcare utilization? Let’s say you are on a cruise ship, and the medical staff determines that you need to be airlifted to the nearest hospital. If a commercial medical helicopter is used, the upfront cost can be upwards of $10,000 to get you to the nearest hospital. Additionally, it’s not unusual for a patient in a local foreign hospital to require transportation back to the United States for further treatment. As an example, from a Caribbean country to the US, the cost can easily reach $30,000. The average cost for an Intensive Care transfer from China to the United States is $250,000.
The Solution: Buy an inexpensive travel medical insurance policy – Click here for your immediate quote
- Take the stress out of your travel and buy an inexpensive travel insurance policy:
For trips up to 70 days outside the US. buy an inexpensive travel insurance, which will ease your travel.
Single Trip Essential Choice: “Geo Voyager” – click here for your Single trip quote
- Emergency medical evacuation – International Medical Benefit Limit varies from $50,000 to $ 1 Million.
- 24/7 accessible and recognized global providers who speak English, and many have been trained in the U.S.
- Local Hospitalization.
- Online tools to easily access your policy information, print ID cards and look up local health care providers and health tips.
- Medical claims processing
- Starting at $ 15 – Average Premium cost – $ 80
Multi Trip – Essential & Choice “Geo Blue Trekker”- Click here for your multi-trip quote
- An Annual Plan for multiple trips outside the U.S.
- Ideal for the Leisure Traveler & Business Traveler who travel frequently outside the U.S
- Emergency Medical Evacuation $ 250,000- $ 500,000- International Medical benefit limits vary from $ 50,000 to $ 250,000
- Premium starts at $ 100
- Age between 18 to 84 years – children’s coverage available
Solid Health Insurance Services in conjunction with Geo Blue offer plans with different levels of coverage, ranging from 0 deductible plans to $ 500 deductible with a travel insurance benefit maximum varying from $50,000 to $ 1,000,000. Click on the link for an immediate quote or for any questions contact us at Info@solidhealthinsurance.com.