Importance of travel insurance

[Lucie]

A reminder about the importance of travel insurance: sad story.

We befriended an elderly couple a few years ago while snow birding in Costa Rica. We got to know them over the years. This past week the wife was complaining of feeling fatigued. She collapsed on the stairs and was taken by ambulance to a nearby clinic. She was then sent by ambulance to the hospital 4 hours away. She had cardiac surgery, was in ICU and then sadly passed. The out of pocket cost will be approximately $35k, including ambulances, hospital, reparation of remains, flight change, etc. Unfortunately, he did not get travel insurance. He said ”we’re just two old people hanging out by the beach, what could happen?”

I know the loss of his wife is the primary concern, but the added financial burden only adds to a sad situation.

 

[Koolau]

Sad story indeed - especially about the wife being ill. IIRC the "rule" for purchase of insurance is to cover situations one can not comfortably cover on their own. I wonder if this couple - like many of us here - simply took the chance that they might have to come up with (in this case) $35K? I'd probably be a bit upset with the circumstances but I could fairly easily cover the bill. Only the logistics might be an issue (how to transfer funds from, say a MF to a checking account and then to a foreign country or some other tortuous process). I wonder how easy it is to get the insurance company that might have been contracted to cover the bill to actually make good on it.

 

[athena53]

I aways buy travel insurance including a separate service that offers evacuation to any hospital anywhere. I haven't used it but am glad to have it. One sad story I read was a woman whose husband died suddenly in Central America in a country where cremation was illegal. She either had to pay a massive sum to repatriate his body or bury him there. So she buried him there. I don't want DS and DDIL having to make that decision.

 

[brett]

A colleague spent 2 weeks in ICU in a Miami hospital several years ago. Then a dedicated medical evac flight back to Canada.

They were fortunate. They had out of country medical and evac insurance. Covered everything including his spouse's flight home.

It is not about what you are doing or where you are. Serious illness can strike at any time.

We view out of country medical and evac as a financial risk. So we make certain that we are insured against that risk. We are not worried about a $10K bill. It is the $200K plus risk exposure that we want to mitigate.

 

[Koolau]

I aways buy travel insurance including a separate service that offers evacuation to any hospital anywhere. I haven't used it but am glad to have it. One sad story I read was a woman whose husband died suddenly in Central America in a country where cremation was illegal. She either had to pay a massive sum to repatriate his body or bury him there. So she buried him there. I don't want DS and DDIL having to make that decision.

Wow. I didn't realize any country forbid cremation. Not something most of us would think about but good to know. Customs and practices as well as "strange" (to us) laws are probably a good thing to research before going to any other country (maybe, any other state?)

 

[Lewis Clark]

A friend of mine had a stroke while on a cruise around South America last fall. She fell and broke all three ankle bones. Was a couple of days before they could even get her off the ship to a hospital in Chile.

She spent a couple of weeks in the hospital in Chile. Her husband had a hotel room all that time. The air ambulance flight back to the US was over $200,000.

We always get travel insurance for big trips. We don't get travel insurance for smaller domestic trips.

 

[Focus]

It's only now that I've entered my 60s that this has gotten on my radar. This makes me wonder: After what age do people start to get insurance before traveling? And do people tend to get it for trips that are longer rather than only a couple of weeks long?

 

[ut2sua]

It must be just me, but whenever I read the fine print of (most) travel insurance policies, I felt like I have to climb over mountains, and then be at the mercy of the insurance companies in order to get reimbursed. We have been "self-insured" for a long time, and I have come to accept that I will need to cover the cost some day.

 

[Koolau]

It must be just me, but whenever I read the fine print of (most) travel insurance policies, I felt like I have to climb over mountains, and then be at the mercy of the insurance companies in order to get reimbursed. We have been "self-insured" for a long time, and I have come to accept that I will need to cover the cost some day.

Yes, after reading the fine print, you get the impression that the insurance company already has a way out of paying.

 

[Focus]

Yes, after reading the fine print, you get the impression that the insurance company already has a way out of paying.

Sounds like LTC policies...

 

[2017ish]

It's only now that I've entered my 60s that this has gotten on my radar. This makes me wonder: After what age do people start to get insurance before traveling? And do people tend to get it for trips that are longer rather than only a couple of weeks long?

We have had travel/international health/evac insurance since we retired in our mid-50s. We get a yearly policy given our travel schedule. Also, we continue to maintain a separate policy for scuba-related injuries/evac (particularly hyperbaric treatment), which we have carried since our 30s, and which has more extensive coverage (and expertise) for dive injuries.

We've never bought trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as we can easily eat those costs. But both international air evac and evac to a chamber from an atoll or small boat in the south pacific are more daunting.

 

[FIYes]

We get an annual medical insurance policy for travel. I don’t worry about trip cancellation but am concerned if one of us should need medical care in a foreign country.

 

[frank05]

I have an annual international insurance policy. Get it mainly for travel evacuation but it does cover local medical care. From talking with my friends who have lived overseas, the cost of care is significantly cheaper than the US. Everything else except trip cancellation is covered by my credit card. I self insure cancellation.

 

[OldShooter]

Our BCBS Advantage policy is said by our agent (a family friend for years)to cover us for medical expenses when we're outside the US. In addition, where we are in something other than first-world countries where English is widely spoken, I buy evacuation insurance. This is primarily because I don't want one of us to be trying to manage the logistics of getting any needed medical attention and getting us home. Typically I use Travelex. The logistics is much more important to me than the financial aspects. We can sort out financial issues when we get home and, truth be told, we have enough money that if we lose on an issue it will not be a big deal.

 

[Exit 2024]

For those who have yearly medical travel insurance including evac - what is the price and who is your insurer?
Did you use it? if yes, how easy it was to get help?
We plan to beef up our travel and that is something I need to look into.

 

[surprising]

I have an international trip in a few weeks and called my insurance (Anthem BCBS) if international is covered, and they said yes, and gave me a link to a form to fill out for reimbursement. Also I was given a link where I can search for international hospitals near where I'm going to be that are in 'provider network' that will bill Anthem directly, and there are several where I'm staying (Philippines). I assume this to mean I do not need additional travelers insurance. Is this a valid assumption?

 

[Luvdogs]

Back when I worked, our regular health insurance covered overseas travel. Our Medicare is just 50K lifetime.

So we always buy travel insurance. If you have pre-existing conditions, many require that you purchase it very soon after the first reservation (flight, hotel or cruise)--I think it's about two weeks.

I also make sure that the insurance says that it pays the hospital directly so that I don't have to front the money and hope that insurance reimburses me. Now whether it happens or not in the real world, who knows....

And I always renew our annual Medjet insurance which is separate from health insurance.

 

[2017ish]

For those who have yearly medical travel insurance including evac - what is the price and who is your insurer?
Did you use it? if yes, how easy it was to get help?
We plan to beef up our travel and that is something I need to look into.

GeoBlue is the name used in marketing, but actual underwriting is through a Bermuda based insurer. It is $410 annually for the two of us. (We also tend to need supplemental coverage at times each year, because it is limited to 70 days per trip; thus, we purchase add-on weeks when necessary.)

Fortunately, we haven't needed it yet.

OH, also note that if you are 65+, Medicare supplemental policy G covers foreign emergency care, but is subject to a 50K lifetime limit. That feels woefully limited to me; hence our continued DAN and GeoBlue coverages. But coordination of policies will be a PIA if/when we have emergency care needs when traveling. (Worst case: dive accident at a depth of less than 20 meters, which would be within all three policies!)

 

[brett]

The biggest benefit of my DB pension plan is 60 day out of country medical and evac ($5Mil). As many times year, but limited to 60 day duration door to door. No forms to fill out, no meds history required for a trip.

Over the past 13 years we have used that 60 day coverage, typically 55 days just in case of a delay, twice per year. Sometimes one or two shorter trips in between.

This coverage has become increasing valuble to us as we passed 60, then 70, and one of us has some health issues.

I make of point of reading the benefit package each Jan to make sure that it has not been changed, reduced, or some additional limiting T's and C's have been added.

Only used it once for my spouse in Kuala Lumper. Small claim.. about $1500 in todays money. Paid in full, no issues whatsover.

On one trip we went three days past the contractual day limit. We were stopping in HNL for three extra days while changing planes on our way home from Oz. We were both in good health, no issues. But...I still contacted the insurer to buy an extra three days of coverage in HNL. The cost was minimal compared to the potential risk.

 

[athena53]

It's only now that I've entered my 60s that this has gotten on my radar. This makes me wonder: After what age do people start to get insurance before traveling? And do people tend to get it for trips that are longer rather than only a couple of weeks long?

When DH and I married I was 50 and he was 65 with health issues so I started buying it. I later realized that I was the one hiking up mountains, snorkeling in 42-degree water off Alaska and wandering the streets, so maybe I was at risk, too. He died in 2016 and I'm 72 and still doing a lot of the same things so yes, I still buy insurance even though my Medicare Supplement has a $50K lifetime limit I haven't touched. I usually buy it through the tour company I use since I figure it will be easier to co-ordinate with them.

I use an annual subscription to MedJetAssist for evacuation coverage. They pick you up anywhere on a private plane and take you anywhere - back to your home hospital if that's what you want. They do require that you actually be admitted to a hospital, so if they put a cast on a broken arm and release you it doesn't apply. Haven't needed it yet and I'm happy with that.

 

[OldShooter]

... I use an annual subscription to MedJetAssist for evacuation coverage. ...

This brings up an important point. Many of the companies offering evacuation and other coverages are not actually insurance companies. IOW, no state regulation, no state guaranty fund, no oversight, ... So you don't really know if this is just Uncle Herman answering his cell phone or whether they are a serious and reliable company.

Not to impugn MedJetAssist specifically. I think they have been around for a while but they are not an insurance company. "DAN," which sells to divers is also not an insurance company but they seem more like an agent for Generali Insurance which, presumably is a licensed insurance company.

YMMV, but I see no reason to buy from someone who is not a regulated insurance company. Hence, lately, Travelex. Travel insurance you can trust | Travelex Insurance I have never had a claim, though, so that consumer experience is unknown.

 

[FlaMariner]

For those who have yearly medical travel insurance including evac - what is the price and who is your insurer?
Did you use it? if yes, how easy it was to get help?
We plan to beef up our travel and that is something I need to look into.

We've bought the Geo Blue multi trip Trekker Essential policy for both of us for several years and is $263 a year (total, for both of us)....Covers medical ($500k) and evacuation ($250k) for all international trips up to 70 days.

We've been heading 2x a year out of the country so we think it's a bargain.....and worth it for the piece of mind....

We use our BofA credit card to cover the cancellation/luggage lost/trip interruption stuff....That's not really a concern.....but medical and medical evacuation is a concern.

I did file one claim.....Her Majesty needed the services of the cruise ship infirmary and they easily paid the claim...but it was not that much....No experience with them paying a big bill...thank goodness.

 

[Go-NoGo]

I have used Allianz Travel insurance for trips to remote(ish) locations. They have a number of plans and one of them might be suitable for you.
Allianz is a very large insurance company - and has received good reviews. I have personally never filed a claim, so I do not have any experience on how that process works

Their plans:

Travel Insurance Plans | Allianz Global Assistance

Discover the affordable and comprehensive travel insurance plans offered by Allianz Global Assistance. Get a Quote and buy online instantly.

www.allianztravelinsurance.com

 

[Out of Steam]

We're taking travel insurance for the first time on our upcoming trip (Road Scholar) to Croatia. Having to pay for the trip four months in advance seemed like too high a risk not to.

I've recently heard a story of the excellent assistance a friend had when her travel companion fell seriously ill in the airport on the way home.

 

[Sunset]

I have used Allianz Travel insurance for trips to remote(ish) locations. They have a number of plans and one of them might be suitable for you.
Allianz is a very large insurance company - and has received good reviews. I have personally never filed a claim, so I do not have any experience on how that process works

Their plans:

Travel Insurance Plans | Allianz Global Assistance

Discover the affordable and comprehensive travel insurance plans offered by Allianz Global Assistance. Get a Quote and buy online instantly.

www.allianztravelinsurance.com

We also have Allianz Travel, the entire year version for health and evac coverage (500K).
And buy trips with CC's that offer interruption/delay coverage.

Haven't used anything, but would rather have it.
Have been on many cruises, and have seen an evac on many of them.