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Travel Medical Insurance – Uses, Types, and Things to Consider

Insurance policies today go beyond life coverage. They offer specific solutions to situations and different age groups. For instance, seniors can avail of medical insurance during travel as they are more likely to develop health issues with age. Travelling may bring many unexpected challenges or emergencies, making medical insurance coverage crucial for peace of mind. Knowing the average cost, implications, and coverage of travel medical insurance can help one choose the right policy.

Travel Medical Insurance – Uses, Types, and Things to Consider

Importance of travel medical insurance
Most countries have made travel medical insurance mandatory to protect travellers and mitigate financial risks. Getting specific coverage can ensure one receives timely and adequate healthcare attention. Healthcare treatments, especially outside the country, are often expensive, and making out-of-pocket payments can quickly deplete one’s savings. So, people over 60 are particularly advised to purchase travel medical insurance to safeguard themselves against unforeseen healthcare bills, especially for foreign travel.

Types of travel medical insurance
There are different types of medical travel insurance for varying needs, including domestic, international, single-trip, multi-trip, and more. People travelling abroad can opt for international or global health insurance that covers healthcare expenses and provides access to top healthcare worldwide. Meanwhile, domestic insurance covers expenses within the country’s borders. Frequent travellers can opt for multi-trip insurance for a set duration, say one or two years, instead of trip-based coverage. The cost of the insurance may vary depending on the traveller’s age and is usually higher for older individuals.

Things that travel medical insurance plans usually cover
There are some common aspects generally covered by the best travel medical insurance plans.

  • Personal accident and sickness healthcare expense coverage
  • Permanent disability due to accidents
  • Access to a helpline for healthcare advice and assistance in finding healthcare facilities
  • Coordination of care while seeking treatment during travel
  • Emergencies, including injury and illness, and hospitalization for the same

Factors to consider while choosing a travel medical insurance policy

Evacuation facility : If an individual over 60 faces an unexpected infection, illness, or injury, they should be urgently evacuated from their location. Such situations incur transportation costs, so choose a comprehensive insurance plan that covers medical evacuation.

Dental treatment : In some cases, people may face a dental emergency due to injury or other reasons like tooth infection, bleeding gum, chipped or fractured teeth, swelling in the mouth, unexpected and excruciating gum pain, and loss of crown or filling. Some travel medical policies cover treatment for these dental emergencies. For people dealing with conditions like diabetes or gum disease (which increases the chance of dental issues) or seniors over 65 using crowns or bridgework, it’s best to consider a policy that provides coverage for dental treatments.

Hospitalization and emergency cover : Seniors over 60 planning an extended vacation are advised to opt for insurance covering hospitalization charges. It’s also important to choose a policy that covers emergency services, including ambulance charges, in-patient treatments, X-rays, and radiotherapy.

Additional options
There are some add-ons that one can opt for while choosing travel medical insurance for added cost.

Hijack distress allowance : Certain insurance plans provide this allowance up to a certain limit—in terms of cost and the number of days covered. This can help people caught up in such rare situations tackle the trauma.

Compassionate visit : During a healthcare emergency, no matter how much local assistance a person gets, nothing can replace the presence of a loved one. So, some international insurance plans cover the travel and accommodation costs of a loved one in case there’s a situation that requires one to be hospitalized and one cannot return to the country immediately for treatment.

Individuals must disclose their pre-existing conditions when choosing insurance. This includes detailed health history, ongoing treatments, and any current health issues. One should also be careful when choosing insurance and ensure the policy covers one’s specific healthcare needs and provides adequate coverage limits and benefits.

Exclusions of travel medical insurance

Time limit : These insurances only cover the cost of healthcare emergencies or needs from when the individual starts their journey, and the coverage ends when they return home. Any health-related issues the traveller may face during the trip will receive reimbursement or coverage. But, since the coverage ends with the trip, any health-related issues that arise after the trip are not covered.

Pre-existing conditions : Most travel medical insurance plans either do not cover pre-existing conditions or bump up the premium price for those with such conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and more. Moreover, the insurance only protects uncertain scenarios that risk the traveller’s health and may not include mental health conditions.

Pregnancy : Most travel medical insurance policies do not include health complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. To cover this, one may have to opt for a specific travel insurance policy and consult their provider for details. Similarly, insurance companies will deny the claim if one travels against the advice of their healthcare provider.

Adventure sports : Most travel insurance companies will deny coverage for losses incurred during adventure sports like mountaineering, rafting, scuba diving, etc. So, one may have to purchase health insurance specifically for these activities, and the premiums may be expensive compared to standard insurance policies.

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