Should you buy travel insurance or rely on your health insurance?
Are you jet setting soon? Perhaps you’re visiting the pink sand beaches in the Mediterranean or hiking in Costa Rica for a week. Before you pack your bags, it’s wise to consider whether or not you could benefit from travel insurance. Alarmingly, many travelers rely on their health insurance to cover them if they have an emergency abroad, but this isn’t always possible. Not every insurance plan will cover you for every destination and situation.
Do I need travel insurance if I have health insurance?
When you’re planning a trip overseas, it’s well worth calling your insurance company beforehand to ask if your plan includes overseas health insurance. Some may only cover you in certain situations which you should explore carefully.
The U.S. Department of State suggests some questions to ask your insurer, including:
- Does my plan cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I become seriously ill?
- Do you require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
- Do you guarantee medical payments abroad?
If you have Medicare, be aware that you may not be able to rely on this plan if you have an emergency abroad. Again, contact your insurer to understand what is and is not covered. In some situations, a Canadian hospital may accept your Medicare coverage, but it’s best not to rely on this outcome. You can purchase a Medigap policy to cover emergency care received outside of the United States.
In most cases, we recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your health and journey. Travel insurance includes some major benefits that health insurance plans cannot offer. Along with emergency medical benefits, a travel insurance policy can cover emergency medical transportation, trip cancellation, and trip interruption.
Obtaining the right travel insurance plan that meets all of your needs doesn’t have to be difficult. Contact the insurance professionals at Donald Weiss Insurance Services to have an expert customize a great travel policy that includes cancellation coverage!
