Medical Travel Insurance

[gailwinters]

DH and I are planning a trip to Ireland/Scotland and we would like to purchase medical insurance coverage only. We don't want to cover the cost of our trip because most of it will be refundable if we have to cancel.

Has anyone purchased just medical? Any recommendations on a company?

 

[PaunchyPirate]

DH and I are planning a trip to Ireland/Scotland and we would like to purchase medical insurance coverage only. We don't want to cover the cost of our trip because most of it will be refundable if we have to cancel.

Has anyone purchased just medical? Any recommendations on a company?

I use GeoBlue. It is a Blue Cross/Blue Shield product. You need domestic insurance to buy it, but it doesn’t need to be from BC/BS. You can buy a plan to cover just your one trip or an annual plan.

 

[bigreader]

I also use GeoBlue.
BR

 

[kevink]

Check prices on insuremytrip.com and World Nomads as well. We bought bare-bones medical coverage (mostly for COVID) from insure my trip recently and have used World Nomads many times.

 

[gailwinters]

Check prices on insuremytrip.com and World Nomads as well. We bought bare-bones medical coverage (mostly for COVID) from insure my trip recently and have used World Nomads many times.

They would be my first choice, but we’re too old!

 

[Drake3287]

Unfortunately, preexisting conditions is hard to get coverage for and with this being a retiree forum, most everyone has a medical history of some sort.

 

[Luvdogs]

We have GeoBlue also. It's the only one I can find that covers pre-existing conditions. One of the other companies says it does-- but it has a three year lookback period.

Also, I'm pretty sure you need to buy it very soon after you book your trip--whether it is the hotel, cruise, airline, etc.

Whenever I book a trip overseas, I get insurance within a few days. This is for medical insurance only.

I don't insure the trip itself since most things can be cancelled until shortly before the stay. But I recently booked a hotel that has a cancellation policy that it has to be cancelled 30 days prior but that's pretty unusual--and maybe they can get away with it due to revenge travel.

 

[Drake3287]

For those that belong to Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser advertises as being one of the few Medical Insurance providers that offers emergency/urgent coverage anywhere in the world. At least here through the Northern California region and I assume the others all offer the same.

All it takes is to call Kaiser's special 800 number and notify them of the emergency and they take it from there. They also consult with the treating hospital/doctor in foreign countries to work out the needed medical care.

As for payment of services, I do believe Kaiser expects you to pay with a credit card and then submit all documentation once you return home for reimbursement. Of course the big question is what happens if you suffered a serious health emergency and the bill runs into the tens of thousands of dollars. Luckily for me I have several credit cards with high limits.

With most older adults having preexisting medical conditions, this coverage is almost a must. Unfortunately I think most American's that travel overseas have no coverage and basically just roll the dice.

Minor things like stitches or a broken wrist from a fall are easily paid for out of pocket, serious conditions of course are a totally different thing.

 

[candrew]

If you are on traditional Medicare with a supplement, have a look at your evidence of coverage. There may be coverage for emergency medical treatment while outside of the U.S.

We had a plan G supplement that provided a lifetime 50K emergency medical travel benefit that was valid only for the first 60 days that we were outside of the U.S. At times we travel outside of the U.S. for up to 6 months at a time. For that reason (and another related to cost savings), we've enrolled in a Medicare Advantage PPO plan offered through DW's state retirement. No time limit on emergency medical travel outside of the U.S.

Additionally, we carry an emergency medical evacuation policy. Annual premium cost for both of us runs around $700/year.

 

[BooBoo]

Avoid Allianze, tried to make a medical claim and was denied. It has taken months and I had to call many times. Still fighting and working with a lawyer to resolve. Very disappointed.

 

[SumDay]

I use GeoBlue. It is a Blue Cross/Blue Shield product. You need domestic insurance to buy it, but it doesn’t need to be from BC/BS. You can buy a plan to cover just your one trip or an annual plan.

When I went to GeoBlue.com and said I wanted travel insurance, I was redirected to Pacific Prime. Is this legit?

 

[bigreader]

When I went to GeoBlue.com and said I wanted travel insurance, I was redirected to Pacific Prime. Is this legit?

That's the wrong URL. Google Geo Blue and you will get www.geobluetravelinsurance.com

 

[Dan32]

Does anyone have experience using Sapphire Reserve emergency medical insurance?

 

[braumeister]

Does anyone have experience using Sapphire Reserve emergency medical insurance?

What are you looking for?
I don't think they offer actual medical insurance, just emergency evacuation.

 

[Dan32]

So it’s only evacuation in case of an emergency without any emergency treatment? Just trying to see what if anything additional we should purchase for 3 weeks in Italy. Difficult enough trying to sort through Medicare, Supplement plans, and Med Advantage plans in the US. International travel just adds another level of complexity

 

[Gotadimple]

That's the wrong URL. Google Geo Blue and you will get www.geobluetravelinsurance.com

GeoBlue is not available in all states. They have subsidiaries that do have policies available in the states where they are not approved by the insurance commissioner. They may not be the cheapest.

World Nomads is great if you are younger, but they do have an age limit where they will not write a policy.

Use an aggregator like InsureMyTrip or SquareMouth. These are licensed agents who have products from many carriers and serve all 50 states. I was able to get a policy from a company called Seven Corners through SquareMouth at less than GeoBlue's subsidiary.

- Rita

 

[braumeister]

So it’s only evacuation in case of an emergency without any emergency treatment? Just trying to see what if anything additional we should purchase for 3 weeks in Italy. Difficult enough trying to sort through Medicare, Supplement plans, and Med Advantage plans in the US. International travel just adds another level of complexity

It's pretty standard -- just what would be needed to safely get you to proper treatment.

Benefit Overview
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

What is Covered
Transportation, medical services, and medical supplies that are necessary for your emergency evacuation
Transportation includes, but is not limited to, air ambulances, land ambulances, and private motor vehicles

 

[brett]

Read the policy carefully. Make certain that it includes evacuation insurance.

Buy directly from a carrier or a travel insurance specialist. Definitely not from a travel provider or from a travel agent/agency.

Ask questions. Ask more questions.

Do not gloss over your medical conditions, etc. on order to secure a lower premium. IF you need to make a claim your actual medical history vs what you input on the insurance application will be the first thing that the insurer reviews.

We travel internationally fairly often. At least three times per year, often more. Even though we have only had one minor claim in 25 plus years we view out of country medical/evac as our biggest risk when travelling. So we make certain that we address that risk.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

Just yesterday, I purchased an annual travel policy from GeoBlue (Trekker Choice) primarily for its medical evacuation coverage of $500k and $1 million in medical coverage. It also comes with a 24/7 Global Medical Assistance benefit. GeoBlue was the only company I could find that would insure longer duration trips (up to 70 days) in an annual policy.


We paid $390 for the policy, and it could be money well spent or money flushed down the toilet (I'm hoping for the toilet), but the policy offers great peace of mind while traveling.

 

[brett]

Just yesterday, I purchased an annual travel policy from GeoBlue (Trekker Choice) primarily for its medical evacuation coverage of $500k and $1 million in medical coverage. It also comes with a 24/7 Global Medical Assistance benefit. GeoBlue was the only company I could find that would insure longer duration trips (up to 70 days) in an annual policy.


We paid $390 for the policy, and it could be money well spent or money flushed down the toilet (I'm hoping for the toilet), but the policy offers great peace of mind while traveling.

SMART! IMHO it is money well spent. You should hope that you never have to make a claim.

We limit each of our several out of country trips to 60 days each. When we first retired we purchased a 180 day policy (in Canada) to cover a six month international trip.

Fast forward 12 years we have aged, crossed the age 70 benchmark, and one of us has had some complications. I used to take this pension provided travel insurance for granted. Now I am extremely grateful for if only because it is no questions asked insurance.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

SMART! IMHO it is money well spent. You should hope that you never have to make a claim.

In my vernacular, money "flushed down the toilet" is funding insurance on which no claim is made. However, money "well spent" is funding insurance on which a claim is made. I'm hoping my money goes to the toilet fund.


By the way, Brett, based on my DH and my discussions of your prior traveling posts, you and your wife are our traveling heroes. Just so you know, it's been five years since we traveled internationally, but we travel lightly (carry on only), and slowly and for a long period of time (our current longest was 6 weeks but heading out this fall for 56 days and next spring for over 60 days). You are apparently more spontaneous than we are, but it's just my personality to do more planning.


Thank you, and keep posting. You are inspiring!!!

 

[COcheesehead]

FYI. Some of these act as reimbursements. Meaning you have to pay the bill in the foreign country and then make a claim. My FIL had to wire tens of thousands to a Croatian hospital to get my MIL out after an accident during a cruise. They also had to have an accompanying nurse on the flight back to the states.
I had a neighbor’s daughter have a diving accident in Belize. The flight to medivac her to Miami was $28,000. She didn’t have insurance. Don’t be under insured.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

FYI. Some of these act as reimbursements. Meaning you have to pay the bill in the foreign country and then make a claim. My FIL had to wire tens of thousands to a Croatian hospital to get my MIL out after an accident during a cruise. They also had to have an accompanying nurse on the flight back to the states.

Yes. My retiree health insurance covers me and my DH internationally with reimbursement to me of what I had to pay out-of-pocket. It's kind of a pain! With the GeoBlue policy, I actually receive an insurance card to give to international providers, many of whom are in the Blue Cross network (or so I'm told), for medical care. Not sure how the medical evacuation is billed, but I have a 24/7 global assistance line to ask, if necessary.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

I had a neighbor’s daughter have a diving accident in Belize. The flight to medivac her to Miami was $28,000. She didn’t have insurance. Don’t be under insured.

I totally agree with this, and I would also add that travelers should familiarize themselves with how to call local emergency services (the local equivalents of 911) and where the emergency services are located. In reflecting back on our previous travels (which all occurred when we were at least 5 years younger), I realize that we were way too cavalier with knowing how to contact emergency services and the locations of nearby hospitals/clinics with English-speaking staff. We have remedied that issue (we hope).

 

[fh2000]

Just yesterday, I purchased an annual travel policy from GeoBlue (Trekker Choice) primarily for its medical evacuation coverage of $500k and $1 million in medical coverage. It also comes with a 24/7 Global Medical Assistance benefit. GeoBlue was the only company I could find that would insure longer duration trips (up to 70 days) in an annual policy.


We paid $390 for the policy, and it could be money well spent or money flushed down the toilet (I'm hoping for the toilet), but the policy offers great peace of mind while traveling.

I often wonder how much should I insure for evacuation and medical coverage. The recent trip to Canada (since it is relatively close to US), I insured $250K for medical, and $500K for evacatuion. My next trip to Europe I insured for $500K medical and $1 million for evacation, which is just the reverse of yours.

I have never used the travel insurance that I purchased. I would think in the event of an accident, they will just patch you up, and send you home via evacuation. Am I thinking this wrong?