January 18th, 2010
International Travel Health Insurance Plans & Importance
Preparation for travel includes some basic health precautions and safety such as purchasing overseas health insurance. This is especially important if you are traveling to unfamiliar countries around the world. One can never be prepared enough for different climates, food and environments which might take a toll on the travelers health, requiring visits to an unfamiliar healthcare provider in a strange place.
International insurance plans cover a wide range of doctors, hospitals or healthcare institutions that are pre-recognized. International travel insurance plans cover a range of situations from short visits to a doctor to an extended stay in a hospital.
International health insurance plans can cover covers single visits, multiple visits and extended international visit for visits longer than six months. If the individual is traveling with family, all family members can be covered under the international travel health insurance plan.
You need to ensure that the international health Insurance selected covers a comprehensive range of diseases and emergency disorders that might be common in the country you are visiting. Illness and injuries that are a result of terrorist attacks are also covered in most international health insurance plans. If you are planning on adventure sports, there are some insurance plans that cover these as a rider for which you must pay an extra premium.
There are some conditions which are not covered as part of an international health insurance plan, such as pre-existing conditions, dental treatment and cosmetic changes. This is because an international health insurance is a short-term health insurance plan. Some plans offer coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The age of the insurer and the benefits that are selected determine the premiums for the travel health insurance. They are sometimes different for men and women.
Treatment at pre-approved medical institutions can be availed by producing the medical identity card that is provided to the traveler with the international travel health insurance plan. This ensures that the bills are paid directly by the insuring company. The traveler is also provided with a list of identified and approved medical centers, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.
There is also an option to undergo the treatment on your own and get all the bills reimbursed by the insuring company. You will need to produce all the medical records along with the bills. The insuring company will have to be notified before the treatment begins. Reputed companies including Lloyds, AIG, and Nationwide underwrite travel health insurance plans.
Dan Miller often writes about international insurance.