- Health care costs in the U.S. are the highest in the world.
- There is no free medical care in the U.S.
Lets review why health insurance for overseas travel is so important when visiting the United States from abroad.
Paying for Medical Emergencies
The primary – and most important – benefit of overseas health insurance is covering medical emergencies. If a traveler gets a severe case of food poisoning, for example, and becomes severely dehydrated, that traveler may need to go to a hospital. A hospital visit in the U.S. can often cost thousands of dollars, even just for a short overnight stay.
An overseas travel insurance plan gives the traveler the protection they may need if such an emergency happens. Depending on the type of overseas medical insurance plan, the traveler may have to pay a deductible and co-insurance at the time of care, but the insurance provider will pay the remainder of the medical bill (up to the plan limit and with claim approval). Without overseas insurance, the traveler could be required to pay their hospital bill by handing over a credit card and paying it off over time with accrued interest. Thats not the kind of souvenir you want to take back home!
Related Article: 10 Reasons CoverAmerica-Gold is the Best Visitors Insurance Plan for the USA
Paying for Evacuations and Repatriation
The next most important benefit of having an overseas insurance plan is covering emergency evacuations and repatriation. If the traveler is badly injured or seriously ill and cannot reach a hospital by standard transportation services, the overseas insurance company will coordinate and pay for an emergency medical evacuation so they can receive proper medical care. For example, if a traveler is in the U.S. to take a Caribbean cruise and suffers a heart attack, the onboard medical facilities may be suitable for basic life-saving measures but they cannot help the traveler fully recover.
An emergency medical evacuation off a cruise ship to the closest medical facility can cost tens, even hundreds, of thousands of dollars and the cruise ship is not responsible for getting you to a medical facility. After all, there are thousands of other paying passengers on board. Plus, the traveler will be responsible for paying the bill for their medical care onboard the cruise ship.
With a health insurance for overseas plan in their pocket, however, their medical bill on the cruise ship will be reimbursed and the insurance company will arrange for and manage their emergency evacuation to the nearest medical facility capable of treating them. In addition, the insurance company will also arrange for the traveler to be returned home once they are recovered to the point of being stable for travel again.
What Does Overseas Medical Insurance Cost?
The cost of an overseas travel insurance policy depends on a few factors, including:
- The travelers age
- The length of the trip
- The trip activities involved
- The type of coverage chosen
The cost of a policy may be increased if the traveler chooses to add additional, optional coverage to round out their plan. Its important to note that overseas medical insurance is extremely affordable when you look at the risks involved.
To find the best overseas health insurance plan that is right for you, visit VisitorsCoverage today!
Let Us Help You Find the Right Visitors Insurance Plan
Compare, Quote and Purchase Visitors Insurance