Are you looking for travel health insurance that can cover you while traveling abroad outside the USA? If so, start here. These FAQs can help answer some common questions you might have about purchasing the right coverage for your trip.
I will be traveling outside the US. What type of coverage will international travel insurance provide me?
International travel medical insurance provides coverage for Emergency Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Repatriation of Remains, Trip Interruption, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and more while traveling outside your home country.
Will my domestic health insurance provide enough coverage for international travel?
Many private and government-sponsored domestic health insurance plans provide excellent coverage within the United States. However, they are not intended to provide comprehensive coverage while traveling abroad.
Will my domestic insurance cover anything while I am traveling abroad?
You will need to verify with your insurance company what they will and will not cover. Many domestic insurance companies do not provide medical coverage for international travel, and the ones that do have limited coverage with high deductibles and coinsurance. Travel health insurance is typically a much more effective option for international trips.
My homeowner's policy and credit card offer coverage while traveling abroad. Shouldn't that work fine for me?
While you may have some coverage with both your homeowner's policy and credit card, you will want to review the terms of each carefully, as they will likely have high deductibles. They also may be limited to only certain types of coverage such as Flight Accident, Car Rental Damage, or Accidental Death & Dismemberment while traveling. They may not cover things like Emergency Medical Care or Emergency Medical Evacuation, which travel medical insurance does cover.
I take several trips a year, and I often have a day or less to plan for it. Is there a time limit for purchasing international travel insurance?
You can purchase travel health insurance any time up to the departure date, or even after departing for your trip. In most policies, coverage can start as early as the next business day, or any future date you specify.
Is it possible for me to purchase one policy that will cover international trips all year long?
If you take multiple trips in a year, we advise you to consider an annual travel insurance policy called Multi-Trip Travel Insurance that can provide you with coverage throughout the year. It usually provides higher coverage and is typically less expensive.
Will it matter if my trips vary between business and pleasure if I purchase a Multi-Trip policy?
No, the coverage is not based on your reason for travel. However, there are several restrictions to keep in mind when purchasing annual travel insurance:
- You must maintain a major medical health insurance policy while in your home country, or be enrolled in a government health program such as Medicare,
- Each trip must be limited to 30 or 45 days, depending on the policy,
- Coverage is only provided to persons under the age of 65 (for most companies),
- Trip cancellation is not included in any annual policy,
- Trip interruption is usually a flat amount of $5,000 based on the actual trip cost (for each trip), and
- Most annual travel insurance plans have one policy maximum, and not various options to choose from.
To learn more about Multi-Trip policies, please view the Annual Travel Insurance article below.
My international trips are usually only for a few days. What is the minimum number of days I have to purchase in order to be covered?
Most companies require you to purchase coverage for a minimum of five days.
In regards to medical care, what will these plans cover?
This type of insurance generally covers any new medical conditions, sicknesses, injuries, or accidents that occur after the effective date of the policy.
What does trip cancellation insurance include?
Trip Cancellation Insurance includes various benefits such as Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Repatriation of Remains, Lost/Delayed Baggage, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and possibly other benefits such as travel delay, assistance services, emergency cash transfer etc.
What is the difference between Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage?
Trip Cancellation is designed to provide you coverage in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a valid reason prior to your departure. Trip Interruption is designed to provide you coverage in the event that you need to return home from your trip early due to covered reasons such as a house fire or the death of a close relative.
I read something briefly on "cancel for any reason travel insurance". Can you tell me more about that?
Cancel for any reason travel insurance plans provide trip cancellation coverage for any reason not already covered by regular trip cancellation insurance plans. For example, a cancel for any reason policy can be helpful in the event that you:
- Change your mind and decide not to travel,
- Cannot get travel documents (passport for visa),
- Work-related reasons, weather, family reasons, travel fears (due to recent developments in the country of your destination),
- Epidemic in the area of your destination, or
- Other reasons such as your pet being sick, or your travel partner backing out, etc.
To learn more about Trip Insurance please view the What is Travel Insurance? article below.
Am I required to have a Visa when traveling to a Schengen Country?
US citizens are not required to have a visa when traveling to a Schengen country if the trip duration is 90 days or less and traveling for business or pleasure.
I have heard a lot about your company, Insubuy®. What other policies do you offer in regards to international travel?
As a leading health insurance brokerage company specializing in international insurance, we offer various plans from various companies. The types of insurance policies we offer specific to U.S. Citizens traveling abroad would be: Study Abroad Coverage, Schengen visa Insurance, Expatriates Insurance, Missionary Insurance, Accident, Group Medical, and Specialty Insurance. For more details on any of the above mentioned polices, please feel free to contact our office.
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