Emergency Medical Insurance For Travel 5 Types Of Coverage You Should Consider

By Marie-Claire Smith

Let’s face it: a lot can happen to you when you are away from home and in another country. When traveling abroad, there are a host of variables that you cannot control. You are in unfamiliar territory surrounded by people whose customs you know little about. You also often find yourself engaged in activities that you do not engage in while at home, such as dangerous hikes, para-sailing, visiting the rim of a volcano, or trying exotic foods.

There are always two ways to approach a trip abroad: the way that requires little planning and more risk, and the way that requires more planning and less risk.

Of course, it can be a lot of fun to just book a trip, throw a few things in your suitcase, and take off for unknown lands: there is something that is a lot of fun about being spontaneous – without over-planning your trip.

Still, there is a big difference between spontaneity and engaging in risky behavior. Even if you decide not to plan every little minute of your trip abroad in advance, at least do yourself the favor of getting yourself emergency medical insurance before you leave.

Why? Because, accidents can and do happen while traveling internationally. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that 50% of U.S. travelers heading abroad will experience a health problem while away. And, not a small percentage of these health problems are of a serious nature, including emergencies.

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But, what type of travel medical insurance coverage do you really need? There are a lot of coverage options, but certain options are more important than others.

If you are looking for emergency medical insurance for travel, here are 5 types of coverage you should consider:

1. Emergency transport to a hospital:

Make sure the policy you buy includes provisions for your being transported via local ambulance to the nearest hospital that is equipped to treat you for whatever procedure you may need. Try to get at least $5,000 in coverage for this type of local ambulance expense.

2. A stay in intensive care:

Sometimes, medical emergencies require 24/7 surveillance by nurses, with trained medical personnel waiting nearby. Make sure that your emergency medical insurance policy covers a stay in intensive care, just in case that becomes necessary.

3. Repatriation:

In some cases, a serious medical emergency requires that you are able to return home to receive the proper medical attention there. Make sure that your policy has a repatriation clause.

4. Interruption of trip:

Medical emergencies can, of course, result in the interruption of a trip. Your policy should include provisions for coverage of expenses to cancel your trip before it is officially supposed to be over.

5. Dental emergencies:

Your set of teeth is one part of the body that can be easy to forget about when selecting an emergency medical insurance plan for travel. But, imagine having a painful dental emergency such as a chipped tooth while abroad – not a situation you will want to be in without having emergency dental coverage. Check for a dental emergency clause in your policy.

Once you have chosen the types of coverage that best suit you, make sure that you shop around with multiple insurers to find the best price for your emergency medical insurance coverage.

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Source:

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