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Monday, January 08, 2007

International Medical Insurance

What should your International Medical Insurance cover?

The price of air travel has gone up in recent years but this has not deterred people from flying and visiting other countries. Some of these individuals save money for a year or two and then splurge on that dream vacation.


When people travel abroad, most tourists only carry enough money for food and a little shopping. This may not cover the hospital bills which makes it very important to have some medical coverage.


Some hospitals abroad will not admit the patient unless the tourist is a member of a known insurance provider. Getting this will allow the person to get the best help from doctors in that region that are equipped with state of the art facilities that the country can offer.


The person can also check the United States Department of State, which has a listing of companies that provide international medical insurance and what countries are covered by these plans.


The person can get coverage for one roundtrip and have this renewed for future travels. Those who travel often which is part of the job description can get a package which has longer terms and better benefits.


The best international medical insurance should include the following;


• The treatment of the patient during emergencies and should the person succumb to illness that may happen during the trip.


• Medical evacuation to another country in the event that the facilities are not equipped to handle the situation.


• Trip interruption, which will allow the person to return home immediately should anything happen back home.


• Policies that have deductibles, so that the person can get treatment for free in that country.


The person should not just get the first that comes along the way. The prices and the coverage of these companies are different so it is best to review and compare each. The traveler should remember that maternity, childbirth and vaccinations are rarely covered by such plans.


If the person has recovered from a health condition, the possibility of having that as part of the coverage doesn’t happen often. The traveler should also check if the plan can also be used at home if the individual has been assigned to another country.


Some of these companies have also included medical insurance when the traveler is on board an aircraft or on a cruise ship. This was adopted in 2004 and includes baggage loss, missed connections and terrorism which higher premiums for medical expenses and transport.


Some people think that getting international medical insurance is expensive but this is not true. In the long run, this will save the person money since the person will have to shell out more if the traveler has to be rushed to the hospital for treatment.


The nice thing about international medical insurance compared to those that person can get in the United States is that there are no limitations on who can be covered. This means there is no age limit or other conditions before one can be considered to become a member.


People who love to travel want to have a good time. Though the trip may be cut short due to certain circumstances, the person will be happy to know that the international medical insurance one signed up came through when the individual needed it most.



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