Travelers Beware: Most Health Insurance Policies Do Not Provide International Coverage

Unfortunately, many travelers fail to learn whether their health insurance policies provide coverage when they are outside the United States. And the sad fact is that most policies do not pay medical bills from outside the country.

Additionally, most policies will not cover the very expensive cost of having to be flown back to the United States by an air ambulance. It is also worth noting that Social Security medical benefits do not apply outside the United States.

However, if you are willing to do a little research, you will be able to find policies to purchase which will provide a large assortment of coverage options at a variety of price ranges.

A number of resources are available to assist travelers seeking supplemental health insurance while outside the United States. Among the coverage travelers may find necessary includes guaranteed payment to a foreign medical provider, assistance by means of a telephone support center to talk with physicians, and emergency medical transport to the United States or elsewhere.

A popular program among travelers includes International SOS: (www.internationalsos.com.) Members of this program pay a membership fee which entitles them to a wide variety of medical insurance options while abroad. Additionally, members receive on-line services which include medical and safety travel advisories, assistance with your itinerary and, most importantly, computerized storage of your medical records which could be accessed world-wide.

Another popular program with travelers is MEDEX: (www.medexassist.com). This program provides access to 24-hour coordinators who locate medical assistance when you need it and coordinate insurance payments to foreign medical providers. Their varied insurance policies include coverage of emergency evacuation, emergency dental care, and medication replacement. Other services they provide include reports on travel destinations, outlining many practical tourist topics as well as medical and safety concerns.

A well known organization providing assistance to travelers is the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: (www.iamat.org). IAMAT is a nonprofit organization which provides directories of medical professionals and hospitals worldwide which are available to provide care for IAMAT members. Membership is free, however, donations are appreciated. Besides the worldwide directory of physicians, members also receive access to travel-related information.

For a comprehensive listing of international medical insurance carriers, the U.S. State Department maintains a website: travel.state.gov/travel/index.html

Most travelers taking short trips outside the United States rarely are concerned about health insurance issues. However, those who will spend extended periods living and traveling outside the United States might find special health insurance a blessing if it is needed.