This week we will continue our discussion about insurance for travelers when we look more in depth at emergency medical insurance and what you must know about this very important coverage.
Your plan should always start with sufficient Emergency Medical Insurance. This may seem a necessary evil, but it can be a blessing at a time when you need it most. Because you probably don’t know anyone who has had to use their out of country medical insurance, or perhaps you know someone who had a bad experience with it, the decision to purchase insurance is made out of obligation rather than with a good understanding of what it offers and how to choose a plan that meets your particular travel needs.
Choosing the right type of policy is an important consideration. Are you going on single trip that year, are you planning for a number of different trips throughout the year, or are you a snowbird away for a few months at a time? An annual plan may be cheaper if you travel frequently throughout the year but does limit you to a maximum number of days per trip. A single trip option allows you to buy for as many days as you need. Most plans also come with a deductible which if higher can help to reduce your premium.
Emergency Medical insurance is designed to pay for “sudden and unforeseen circumstances”, not for “medical conditions and / or symptoms” that existed prior to departure. It is important to review your insurance documents to understand what is, and more importantly, what is not covered. For travellers under the age of 60 there is rarely a requirement to complete a medical questionnaire, however in the event of an accident, injury or sickness your prior medical history may be reviewed when a claim is made. What they are looking for are conditions or symptoms that had not been treated or are not under control prior to leaving on vacation, such as hyper tension or asthma. Also if you are traveling while pregnant there is a gestation period over which you are not covered.
It is essential that you advise the carrier of any medical conditions you have, and any medications you take prior to travel to be sure of what is or is not covered. Also important to remember is that you need to contact your insurance carrier before receiving treatment where possible as they will verify coverage and they will pay the health care providers directly. Failure to do so may require you to pay up front, or perhaps avoid your coverage altogether.
Whichever provider you use I would strongly recommend you ask to see the policy wording so you can determine for yourself what is, or is not, covered, the limits offered for each of the coverage, and how it is applied. Read the exclusions as carefully as you read the insuring agreement. These are the most important part of any insurance policy.
Does your policy cover doctor services, hospital stays, prescription medications, emergency dental, ambulance and emergency air transportation? Coverage is available for child care and to fly a travel companion home along with the injured party. You may also be able to purchase coverage for pet care and kenneling if you are incapacitated. If you are traveling with your family consider purchasing a family plan as this may be more affordable.
Athletic activities are usually excluded under the emergency medical insurance but many providers offer a buy back option for Sports Coverage. There are different packages with differing premiums depending on the type of athletics you will engage in, ranging from Contact Sports like football or hockey, Adventure Sports such as skiing, mountain biking or paragliding to Extreme Sports such as base jumping, running with the bulls or motorized speed competitions.
We never compromise on the emergency medical coverage and have always purchased a large limit of coverage. The more you travel the more you will have experienced or heard of accidents or sicknesses from your travel friends. Thinking it may never happen to you is akin to burying your head in the sand. As my father used to say it is better to have it and not use it, then to need it and not have it. I am not sure he was referring to travel insurance, but they are wise words none the less.