Does My Health Insurance Follow Me When I Travel? (2024)

FAQs

Does My Health Insurance Follow Me When I Travel? ›

U.S. health insurance plans typically do not cover regular and routine medical care required overseas. This means your health insurance won't pay for care if you need to visit a doctor for a prescription medicine, or if you need treatment for a condition that is not considered an emergency.

Travel medical insurance provides reimbursem*nt for emergency medical expenses, including medical evacuations, while you're traveling. These policies do not provide coverage for routine expenses. So, if you break your leg while you're on vacation internationally, emergency medical coverage will protect you.

A provider may also want further details from your medical records, or want to confirm aspects of your medical history if you make a claim, for example, for cancellation because of your illness. This might seem like a long-winded process but it's often unavoidable if you still want cover for your trip.

You might be able to get some emergency coverage abroad to an extent, but you won't be able to visit a doctor for a routine procedure or buy prescription medication and expect a reimbursem*nt. Private insurance might or might not offer coverage overseas, but again, it depends on the plan you have.

The questions will vary depending on your condition. We may ask about your treatment, if you've been prescribed any medication, and any recent medical appointments. We will not need to know the name of the medications that you take. We may also ask you about what treatment you are expecting in the future, if any.

Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it. Consider buying additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas. Enroll with the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment ProgramExternal Link (STEP).

Check Your Health Insurance – Are You Covered Abroad? Understand what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas before traveling. Carry your insurance card and a claim form if your policy covers you outside the United States.

While most travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions from medical expenses and evacuation coverage, you may be able to obtain coverage with a pre-existing conditions waiver.

Medical records are key evidence in personal injury cases like these, so as soon as you file a claim against the other driver's insurance, an adjuster will contact you with a release request. They'll tell you they need these records to verify your injuries and process your claim, which sounds reasonable.

Travel insurance companies generally require proof of the duration of a trip in order to assess the appropriate policy. This is generally to ensure that customers are fully covered for the duration of their trip and are not left without medical or emergency assistance overseas should something happen.

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However, Brazil is the only country in the world that offers free healthcare for all its citizens. Also, Norway is the first country in the world to implement a free healthcare policy as far back as 1912. Coincidentally, Norway is recognized as one of the healthiest countries in the world.

Special care if you become ill or injured while traveling

Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a list of local healthcare providers and medical facilities. If your illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance. If you want, they can inform your family and friends.

How much travel medical insurance do you need? Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends buying at least $50,000 in emergency medical coverage for international travel. For travelers going on a cruise or to a remote destination, the site recommends at least $100,000 in coverage.

Cost: Travel insurance will add to the overall cost of your trip. Some may choose to forgo it to save money, especially on shorter or less expensive trips. Exclusions and Limitations: Policies may have various exclusions and limitations, so it's essential to read the fine print.

Reasonably foreseeable events. Known storms, epidemics, acts of war. Travel restrictions imposed by government authorities. Pre-existing conditions, unless the Premium plan is bought within the window for coverage.

In fact, many travel medical insurance plans operate primarily on a pay-first system in which you file a claim for reimbursem*nt post-treatment. Some facilities may require you to make this up-front payment before they'll provide any services at all—though this is largely dependent on location.

Trip Interruption and Travel Delay coverages, included with all of our plans, can also help out if you get sick on vacation. Trip Interruption coverage can reimburse you for the prepaid cost of trip arrangements that you miss out on while you're sick (accommodations, tours, flights event tickets and more).

In most scenarios, travel insurance reimburses you for your covered financial losses after you file a claim and the claim is approved. Filing a claim means submitting proof of your loss to Allianz Global Assistance, so that we can verify what happened and reimburse you for your covered losses.