If you have a healthcare plan, then you will probably already be aware of what it does and does not cover if you get ill or have an accident at home. But what happens if you get ill when you are abroad? Will your healthcare plan cover the cost of any treatment that you receive when outside of the United States?
What to do Before You go Abroad?
If you are going on a trip outside of the U.S., it is a good idea to contact your insurance company to find out whether your plan covers the cost of medical treatment when you are overseas. You need to ask if your policy provides cover if you get ill while abroad and, if it does, you need to clarify whether this also includes any pre-existing conditions you may have.
Even if your insurance company says that you are covered for emergency treatment abroad (most insurance companies cover this), there are other things you need to check. It is not enough to just assume you have the same cover for emergency treatment abroad as you do here in the U.S.
You must get clarification on how much they are prepared to pay. They may only pay a percentage of the cost for treatment. You should also ask what the maximum amount they are willing to pay is and which countries are included in the cover. Be aware that most insurance companies will expect you to cover the cost of treatment upfront and then you can claim for reimbursement when you get back home.
The experts at find-a-code.com recommend asking your insurance company for a list of treatments they cover for consumers abroad. They will likely provide a list of treatment names with the corresponding ICD 11 or CPT codes. These are universal codes, used all over the world.
Should You Get Travel Insurance?
If you are traveling abroad, it may be best not to rely solely on your domestic healthcare insurance plan, particularly if it only covers for emergency treatment. Travel insurance will provide more cover for those traveling overseas and is useful for more than just medical treatment.
If you are buying travel insurance, you need to be aware that most basic plans will not cover pre-existing conditions. However, it is usually possible to buy a waiver for your health condition so that you are covered.
Travel insurance should offer cover should you need an emergency evacuation or if you need to be flown home by air ambulance. It will also provide cover for non-medical expenses such as lengthy delays to flights, or lost luggage. Additionally, should you need to cancel your trip because of illness or a death in the family, you would likely be fully covered under a travel policy.
If you think you would benefit from a travel insurance plan, it is important to check the fine print so that you know what you are and are not covered for. Travel insurance might seem like an expense you can do without, but it can fill in the gaps in your healthcare plan for cover abroad. At the very least it will provide you with peace of mind when traveling. Hopefully you will not need to use it but if you do find yourself ill or in an accident abroad, having this insurance could be the difference between you forking out thousands of dollars and only having to pay a small excess charge.
Whatever type of insurance you are going with when abroad, make sure to have your documents with you should you need them.
