Before taking a trip abroad there are a number of things you can do to prepare yourself and help protect yourself when you are overseas. Minor incidents or accidents, like losing a wallet or spraining your ankle, are simple to deal with at home but turn into major problems when you’re in a country you’re not familiar with. And big issues, like a car accident or a serious illness, are costly to deal with. To give yourself umbrella coverage and make sure your health is protected, purchase visitor medical insurance before your trip.
Paying a little extra on top of your trip cost now can save you a lot of money later. You may resent paying for visitor medical insurance when you have bills for hotels and airfares but the price is low in comparison with what you would need to pay if you had an accident or fell ill abroad. A medical evacuation back to the USA could cost you over $50,000, for example.
In most cases domestic health insurance plans and Medicare or Medicaid programs don’t cover you for accident and illness abroad. Check with your provider, but US medical insurance is not typically enough to cover you for a foreign hospital stay or doctor’s visit. If your policy does not protect you abroad, take out a short term policy that does. These insurance policies specifically cover travel so you won’t usually have to have a medical check-up and the process of signing up is simple – a few clicks on the website and you’re covered.
If you need to access a doctor or medical facility abroad you can contact your visitor insurance provider (there is often an emergency number you can call to find information about how to get treated and how to claim). Or, the US Embassy or Consulate in country can provide you with a list of physicians and facilities. These aren’t recommendations, but the list can be very helpful if you are unsure where to go.