Why you need worldwide health insurance

Thousands of Americans head out of the country every year as they go on vacation overseas or take a semester or year abroad, or decide to backpack or travel around the world. But how many of them purchase worldwide health insurance before they leave?

The sad truth is that many Americans are under-insured when it comes to worldwide health insurance for travelers. Fortunately, there are a number of ways the savvy traveler can be sure they are insured in case of accident or illness while they are abroad.

Checking an Existing Insurance Policy

The first thing a person should check is whether or not their own insurance carrier offers coverage overseas as well. The treatment abroad will usually be considered out of network and so is not reimbursed at the full rate. The traveler might also have to pay everything out of pocket, and then be reimbursed, minus the co-pay and any deductible. There might be little to no coverage for more serious conditions which might require medical evacuation or re-patriation back to the States.

Students going abroad for work study should also check their insurance carrier, or that of their parents if they are still a dependent. Compare any coverage offered with any university group coverage which might be offered for an accredited university study abroad program. Compare co-pays and deductible and out of network coverage versus the university’s insurance plan and purchase the additional insurance if it is affordable and worthwhile coverage.

Buying Health Insurance for Overseas Trips

The U. S. State Department has a number of invaluable travel tips for people who are traveling overseas. Their guidelines include advice regarding specific destinations and what to do if a person has a pre-existing medical condition.

Traveler’s health insurance policies usually give worldwide coverage, but are governed by certain rules and restrictions. They will also include different deductibles for the coverage and specify how the claims are to be filed.

Additional clauses for adventure sports and travel to areas with known diseases can also be found with certain policies. Aim for the widest coverage for the lowest premium. Also look at how long the policy lasts. If you are a frequent traveler, you might find that a policy that lasts a year is cheaper than policies of short duration.

Worldwide health insurance can go a long way toward helping with the cost of any unexpected illness while a person is traveling or studying abroad. Better safe than sorry, especially if traveling to a location in which contracting a disease is much more likely. Adventure sport enthusiasts should always have a policy and be sure to look into special clauses such as for scuba diving when purchasing a worldwide health insurance policy.