Travel insurance for medical emergencies
Emergency Medical Travel Insurance
It can happen at any time: a twisted ankle from walking on cobblestones, a head injury from a car accident, a visit to the hospital due to dehydration from the stomach flu. Such events occur whether you’re at home, or on the other side of the world. As a traveler, you can be more prepared when you have emergency medical travel insurance for your trip.
Few people realize that their primary health insurance may have limitations when it comes to travel. Often, it may not provide the same level of coverage when the insured travels outside of the country – or even when traveling just a few hours away from home. If coverage is even available, it may be considered out-of-network, and therefore cost more. In some international cases, primary healthcare may not pay directly to a foreign hospital, so the traveler is required to pay for services out-of-pocket, and then submit for reimbursement when they return home. In a major emergency, these expenses can increase quickly.
Emergency travel insurance can help with the expenses associated with any accident or sickness you experience while traveling – even if you already have standard health insurance. Emergency medical travel insurance is especially important for Medicaid or Medicare recipients, as these healthcare plans don't typically provide coverage outside the U.S.
The Benefits of Emergency Medical Travel Insurance
Arch RoamRight’s emergency medical insurance plans provide many benefits, the most important being coverage for an injury or sickness diagnosed by a physician for which you have sudden and unexpected severe or acute symptoms requiring immediate care. Failure to obtain such care could reasonably result in serious deterioration of your condition or place your life in jeopardy.
Other benefits of emergency medical travel insurance may include:
- Hospital or ambulatory medical-surgical center services, including expenses for a cruise ship cabin or hotel room, not already included in the cost of your trip, provided it is recommended by your attending physician and approved by us
- Local transportation to and/or from a hospital
- Medical evacuation to a hospital that can provide a higher level of care, if medically necessary
- Repatriation home, if medically necessary
- Repatriation of mortal remains, if a tragedy should occur while traveling
- Transportation for a loved one to join you in your destination if you are traveling alone and hospitalized for the number of days specified in your policy
- Transportation to return dependent children home, if they are left unattended by your death or hospitalization while traveling. This will include an attendant if necessary.
- Assistance services, provided by the assistance provider designated in your policy:
- Access to information on immunization requirements;
- Help locating the closest approved medical facilities to your location;
- Having medical experts monitoring of your care in a foreign country;
- Coordinate your care with your home physician;
- Replacement of lost, stolen, or broken lenses or medical devices.
As part of our Medical Travel Insurance Plans, we will also pay benefits as shown in your policy for a covered emergency accident or sickness. This includes dental emergencies as well.
How Emergency Medical Travel Insurance Helped In Epic Bike Crash In Rural Peru
An unfortunate crash during a trip of a lifetime abruptly cut the enjoyment short. Arch RoamRight’s emergency medical travel insurance coverage helped to ensure proper short-term care, stabilization and evacuation to the right facilities.
How the Travel Emergency Happened
In April 2017, the insured – a female in her fifties – was biking in a remote part of Peru. A wrong turn in rough terrain resulted in significant injuries, including several broken ribs and a collapsed lung. As if the injuries were not enough, the local healthcare facilities were not equipped to handle such a severe case and a potentially long-term recovery.
The Challenge of the Emergency
Injuries sustained in remote areas can present significant challenges in terms of stabilization, treatment and evacuation, if necessary. Local facilities are often not prepared for complex injuries or illnesses, making evacuation to more populous, well served areas a more pressing requirement. Travelers can be left stranded far from home with limited transportation options and support, facing exorbitant out of pocket expenses and the added stress of coordinating treatment and transportation.
The Outcome of the Situation
The insured’s condition was deemed a covered injury requiring evacuation to a regional hospital with better treatment capabilities. Once stabilized and deemed fit for travel, the insured was transferred to her home hospital in the United States via air ambulance. The total cost of the claim, including local stabilization, regional treatment and required transport via air ambulance exceeded $100,000.
The Bottom Line
Fortunately, most travelers will not experience such a situation. However, for the rare occurrence of a significant medical emergency while traveling, the savings add up quickly.
Types of Emergency Medical Travel Insurance Claims
Emergency medical insurance claims include, but are not limited to:
- The services of a physician
- Charges for hospital confinement and use of operating rooms
- Charges for anesthetics (including administration), x-ray examinations or treatments, and laboratory tests
- Ambulance service
- Drugs, medicines, prosthetics and therapeutic services and supplies
How to Purchase from Arch RoamRight
Emergency medical travel insurance is included in many of the RoamRight travel insurance plans. Use the quote form on this page to get pricing and purchase your travel insurance plan now.
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