The trend of traveling after Covid-19 in 2023 is likely to be one of cautious optimism. More people are likely to feel more comfortable and confident with the idea of taking trips, but they should remain aware that health conditions can change quickly. Travel health insurance can provide a layer of financial protection and help travelers if they become ill while abroad. It can also ensure access to quality medical treatment if needed and provide peace of mind when on vacation or traveling for business. Investing in travel health insurance can be an important step for anyone planning a trip, especially those going abroad in 2023.
When you're overseas, it's easy to forget that many countries do not use the same healthcare system as we do in the States. Actually, there are tons of countries that have universal healthcare systems which could provide you coverage for little to no cost. But, there is still a chance you may incur high medical costs when you're on vacation, and this is where travel health insurance comes into play.
What is Travel Health Insurance?
Travel health insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage while traveling, both domestically and internationally. It typically covers any medical expenses incurred while away from home, such as hospital stays and doctor visits. Travel health insurance can also cover emergency services if needed, such as ambulance rides or emergency dental work. Some policies may even cover lost luggage or other non-medical expenses related to the trip. Travel health insurance is an important form of protection for anyone planning a trip and can help provide peace of mind in case of any unexpected events.
Travel health insurance is there to keep you protected from any unexpected medical emergencies or expenses while traveling internationally or domestically. Travelers health insurance plans are a perfect way to keep you and your family protected when on vacation.
For example, imagine you are on a safari in South Africa with your family when the vehicle you're in bumps into a tree trying to escape a charging elephant. Now, you are all ok, but your oldest son needs a couple of stitches. If you have travel health insurance, you can safely take your child to any medical center to seek the attention he needs without having to worry about high costs.
Travel Insurance Coverage
Travel insurance typically covers the following:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Coverage for trip expenses incurred if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to illness, injury, or other covered circumstances.
- Lost Luggage: Reimbursement for lost or stolen luggage up to a certain amount.
- 24-Hour Assistance Services: Access to 24-hour roadside assistance services that can help handle emergency situations while away from home.
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): A cash benefit in the event of an accidental death or loss of limbs while traveling.
- Rental Car Coverage: Coverage in cases where you are responsible for damages caused by an accident while driving a rental car during your trip.
- Emergency Medical Evacuation/Transportation: Transportation costs related to urgent medical attention outside of the country as well as evacuation by airlift or ambulance back home in cases where treatment isn’t available locally.
Who Should Consider a Travelers Insurance
A travelers insurance is something that everyone should consider when planning a trip, both domestically and internationally. Whether you’re taking a vacation or traveling for business, having a plan in place can help cover any medical bills or other costs related to the trip if something unexpected were to happen. Travelers insurance plans come in a variety of forms and coverage levels depending on your needs, so it’s important to research different plans and find one that best suits your individual needs. Taking the time to invest in travel health insurance before leaving home can help provide peace of mind and protect you financially, just in case something goes wrong while on the road. If you are going to be spending a lot of time outside of your provider-network coverage area, it would be a good idea to look into some additional coverage.
Travel Insurance Cost
Travel health insurance policies are pretty cheap and could start as low as a dollar per day. Most of these policies are charged a standard rate for each person on a daily basis. Also, the deductible selected would be an eligible expense amount that the insurer must pay before their travels. The daily rate will normally decrease as the deductible increases and vice versa. Also, international travel health insurance companies will place you in age groups in which determines your daily rate. The daily rates will also vary from plan to plan.
Best Travel Health Insurance Companies
The following travel health insurance companies have proven to be the best:
- Aetna Travel Insurance
- United Healthcare Travel Insurance
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Travel Insurance
- Atlas Travel Insurance
- Patriot Travel Medical
The best international travel health insurance plan will have the freedom to pursue a doctor or hospital of your preference, maximum limits ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000, 24/7 emergency assistance hotline accessibility, $0 to $2,500 in deductible options, up to 24 months in renewing, baggage and travel delay benefits, discount savings in Universal Rx pharmacy, and emergency and repatriation evacuation.
Compare Travel Health Insurance Quotes
If you are a consumer, it's a good idea to get in the habit of doing your research. Whether you are looking for a new car, microwave, or travel health insurance plan, look over all your options before making any decisions. Thankfully, the internet takes a lot of work out of doing research.
The first thing you want to do is look what other people are saying. Travel health insurance companies will do and say whatever they can to make their product look like the best option available. However, if you take to the internet, you will quickly see what customers are saying. However, make sure to take reviews with a grain of salt, because people tend to give reviews when something goes wrong. Still, it will give you great insight into the quality of travelers health insurance plans.
The next thing you want to do is get quotes. You can get quotes directly from the travel health insurance companies, or you can use free quote comparison services like Coverage Guru. While Coverage Guru specializes in individual and family health insurance quotes, it can also put you in touch with agents who can give you insights into travel health insurance plans as well. Once you find the plan that fits your budget and needs, all that's left to do is enroll!